Basic purpose of the Lesson Plan:

• As stated on the back of What are Human Rights?, "The purpose of Youth for Human Rights International is to teach youth around the globe about human rights, thus helping them to become valuable advocates for the promotion of tolerance and peace."
• This Lesson Plan teaches children about human rights and so empowers them to uphold their own and others’ rights.

Design of the Lesson Plan:

• This Lesson Plan is designed to be carried out over a several, week period for about an hour to two hours a day, depending on the students regular class schedule.
• There are features common to each section, such as defining words and concepts so the students gain a full understanding of what they are reading and having the students act out situations demonstrating the concepts they learn. It is important that all students participate so that the concepts become real to them and the learning process is fun.
• Note: A glossary at the end contains simple definitions. Words defined in the glossary are bold in the text.

Materials:

The materials you will need are the Lesson Plan, What are Human Rights? (enough copies for each child to keep one), a simple dictionary and the addresses of groups and individuals concerned with human rights in your country. This would include leading political and human rights figures at national and local level and national human rights organizations.

Suggested classroom form:

It is recommended that the course be held with the class in a semi-circle so that all the children can see each other and interact. The teacher can move around to talk to the children and the center of the circle can be used as a stage. Regular classroom form will also work for this.

Note: Examples of activities are given. You can use these or create your own to better suit your students.

Part One: What are Human Rights?
Part Two: The Thirty Articles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Part Three: You Can Do Something About It.