Are Human Rights Universal?
Source: HRE USA
Using hypothetical examples, students will discuss the concept of universal human rights and their personal thoughts and opinions on the issues. Students will be asked to read or listen to various news articles about the topics, conduct their own research, and prepare notes for a discussion. The purpose is to use current and personal examples in order to engage students in the discussion of human rights.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies
“Close to Home” – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Source: UN Visitor’s Center
Teaching Guide and Resources for two lessons: Understanding the UDHR introduces the UDHR engages students with specific rights; Everyday Human Rights relates rights to daily life.
Grade Level: K-4; 5-8
Subject Area: social studies
Competing Visions of Human Rights: Questions for U.S. Policy
Source: The Choices Program, Brown University]
A challenging seven-lesson curriculum that addresses human rights concepts, practice, and controveries.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, history, civics
Educating for Human Dignity: Learning about Rights and Responsibilities
Author: Betty Reardon, Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
It is the first resource offering both guidance and support materials for human rights education programs from kindergarten through high school. It opens possibilities for an holistic approach to human rights education that directly confronts the values issues raised by human rights problems in a context of global interrelationships. Designed for both teachers and teacher educators.
Grade Level: Adults, educators, teacher educators
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Source: National Park Service
Focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt’s role. Compares the UDHR with Magna Carta and the US Bill of Rights.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, history
Going Global – Investigating Global Issues of Interest and Importance
Source: HRE USA
In this independent research project, students focus on areas of interest to them based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and then study a location that is a hotbed of violations of their chosen human right. The long-term study culminates with a structured presentation of their topic with the intent to raise awareness of Human Rights issues and the intent of proposing a potential solution utilizing specific problem-solving steps.
Grade Level: middle school
Subject Area: social studies
Human Rights
Source: Anti-defamation League
Introduces the UDHR and relates rights to students’ communities and experiences
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, civics
Human Rights Here and Now: Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Publisher: Amnesty International, University of Minnesota Human Rights Center, The Stanley Foundation, 1998
Full curriculum that provides an introduction to the UDHR and human rights and human rights education, lesson plans, activities for taking action, and a human rights glossary.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Human Rights, Responsibilities, and You
Publisher: The Advocates for Human Rights
Three lessons that introduce human rights and personal responsibility for their realization in everyday life.
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.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, current events, geography
Introduction to Human Rights Lesson Plan
Source: PBS NewsHour Classroom, AFT
An introduction to human rights with video.
Grade Level: middle school-high school
Subject Area: social studies, civics
Teaching Human Rights
Author: David Shiman
Publisher: Center for Teaching International Relations, 1993
The UDHR provides a useful framework for organizing this collection of curriculum activities on human rights. Can serve either as the core on human rights or a resource from which teachers can draw specific activities to integrate into existing curricula.
Price: About $30
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: social studies, government
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Source: Facing History and Ourselves
Reading and discussion on the history and significance of the UDHR.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: history, social studies, government
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Lesson Plan
Source: Academy 4 Social Change
Covers the meaning of rights, the UDHR and its contemporary relevance.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: history, social studies, government
The UDHR & Contemporary Issues
Source: HRE USA
This lesson asks students to correlate the UDHR to current newspaper articles which illustrate the portrayal of human rights in one of four situations (rights achieved, rights denied, rights violated, rights in conflict). Students will explain that situation, the correlation to the UDHR, and then write a reflection on the role of the UDHR in potentially resolving the situation.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies
Using Inquiry-Based Research to Highlight Contemporary Human Rights Challenges
Source: HRE USA
Students will be introduced to the concept of Human Rights and tasked with finding how they are still applicable to our world today. This series of lessons will begin with a general introduction to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this, students will design their own questions about what human rights abuses may still be occurring today. The lesson will culminate in students creating an infographic, which will then be shared with the class.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies
The World as It Could Be
Publisher: The World as It Could Be
Full curriculum that uses the creative arts to deepen learning about the UDHR and provide opportunities for the youth to, in turn, teach their peers and adults about the importance of manifesting the words of the UDHR. Lesson plans are designed to encourage a progression of learning that starts with objective knowledge, moves to personal connection to both human rights concepts and issues, and then engagement to play a role in advancing UDHR principles.
Grade Level: middle – high school
Subject Area: social studies, language arts, drama, music
A World at Peace
Source: PBS
In this lesson students to brainstorm the basic rights of people everywhere, explore in basic terms the UDHR and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and then use international photography galleries as part of a multimedia creative writing assignment imagining a world at peace.
Grade Level: elementary school
Subject Area: social studies
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