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Lesson Plans – Freedom of Expression

Speak Truth to Power: The Dalai Lama
Source: Speak Truth to Power Curriculum, RFK Center
Activities based on the Dalai Lama’s story of non-violence, freedom of expression and religion.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, world religions

Freedom of Speech: Finding the Limits
Source: Leonora Annenberg Institute for Civics
Explores the role and limitations of free speech. A US Constitutional rather than a human rights perspective.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: social studies, government

Freedom of Speech & Protest in Professional Sports
Source: HRE USA
Students are asked to step outside of their comfort zones, and analyze opposing perspectives to gain a deeper sense of truth and variance in regards to the Colin Kaepernick protests during the 2016-2017 NFL season. Students relate this to the U.S. Bill of Rights and infuse the UDHR to supplement the content.
Grade Level: middle school
Subject Area: social studies

I Have a Right to …
Source: BBC World Service
A collection of case studies that illustrate specific human rights with contemporary examples. See especially examples under “Think, believe, and express myself.”
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, current events, geography

Music as a Human and Cultural Right: Using Clips from Dr. Sarmast’s Music School
Source: Teach with Movies
This lesson is an examination of the banning of music in Afghanistan using film clips and the film Dr. Sarmast’s Music School. With resources and writing prompts.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: music, social studies

Speak Truth to Power: Vaclav Havel
Source: Speak Truth to Power Curriculum, RFK Center
Activities exploring the right to expressing based on Vaclav Havel’s experiences.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies

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The core values of HRE USA and its partner organizations include transparency and critical thinking skills. We believe that human rights--and human rights education--belong to everyone, and that the full realization of human rights means that access to human rights education materials must never be conditioned upon the subscription to any particular religious faith, ideology, political affiliation, or membership in any particular organization and that any organizational connections should be openly acknowledged.