Teaching Tolerance
Using Photographs to Teach Social Justice | Confronting Unjust Laws
The right to peacefully assembly to protest injustice is a key element of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Class members are asked to analyze two photographs of people confronting what they consider to be unjust...
US Institute of Peace
Organizations Working for Peace
We're all in this together! Show young scholars that peace is a process and having the support of like-minded people can make it happen. 13th in a series of 15 peace building activities, groups conduct research on a peace organization,...
PBS
Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Leader
Expand class members' appreciation of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A powerful resource examines King's speeches, writings, and actions that reveal his deep commitment to a nonviolent approach to Civil Rights. Learners watch a...
Museum of Tolerance
Creating an Ideal World
To conclude a study of social justice and tolerance designed to prepare classes for a visit to the Museum of Tolerance, class members brainstorm a safe and peaceful world. They then write about their own vision of this world.
PBS
“He Named Me Malala”: Understanding Student Activism Through Film
Malala Yousafzai has become the face of social activism. After watching He Named Me Malala and short student-made films about what young people can do to become instruments of change, class members reflect on what it means to be an...
Stanford University
Beyond Vietnam
On April 4, 1967 Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his speech "Beyond Vietnam." The controversy that followed is the focus of a three-lesson unit that asks class members to consider the political and social implications of King's...
Curated OER
Conflict Resolution Lesson Plan
Fourth graders investigate conflict and social justice. In this conflict resolution lesson plan, 4th graders consider conflicts they have experienced and think about how they could have applied conflict resolution strategies to change...
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Honoring All Who Served Veterans Day
November 11th, Veterans Day, is a holiday set aside to honor all those who have served in the military. Here's a resource packed with ideas, activities, projects, and materials that will provide inspiration for ways to celebrate those...
Learning to Live
Attributes of a Civil Society
What makes a society civil? High school freshmen search for examples of justice, kindness, peace, and tolerance in news media and brainstorm how they can promote these attributes in their schools, communities, and world. The well-rounded...
Curated OER
The Media and Social Justice in the United States
Students have group discussions that allow the teacher to assess the level of comprehension of the ideas of subjectivity and objectivity. Level of discussion at the end of the class provides some indication of comprehension as well....
Curated OER
Freedom Fighters
High schoolers discover the accomplishments of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. In this social justice lesson, students watch "Freedom Fighters," and then read speeches or writings made by each of the men. High schoolers write...
Curated OER
Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Power of Nonviolence
Students examine the philosophy of nonviolence developed by Martin Luther King, Jr. and how this turned into practice during the Civil Rights Movement. They compare these teachings to those of Mohandas K. Ghandi.
US National Archives
Documented Rights Educational Lesson Plan
How have groups struggled to have their unalienable rights recognized in the United States? Acting as a research team for the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, your young historians will break into groups to research...
Curated OER
Our Global Community
First graders experience literature which shows how communities live around the world. In this global community lesson, 1st graders read books such as Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox and create a work of art based on their feelings about the...
Curated OER
Addressing Student's Questions in the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks
Students discuss peacemaking. In this political policy and emotions lesson plan, students explore ideas for expressing feelings in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Students reflect on punitive and restorative justice.
Curated OER
Budgeting for Peace
Students explore world leader's quests for peace. In this world leader research lesson, students read a speech by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and view budget figures for the United States. Students work in groups to create an alternate...
Curated OER
Sharing is Caring
By engaging in an arts-based activity, 2nd graders explore peace in the classroom. They listen to the story The Rainbow Fish, then create their own fish to hang in the classroom. They write three things that make them happy on...
Curated OER
Peace and Non-Violence: the Teachings of Gandhi
Students study the Gandhian philosophy. They define certain elements such as power, beauty and discuss what they know about the struggle for independence in India. Finally students collaborate to discuss Gandhian principles to extend...
Curated OER
Friendship
Students investigate the concept of friendship as part of a four lessons unit which integrates literature with language arts, family life, social studies, or religious studies. Peace, cooperation, social justice, and multicultural...
Curated OER
Restorative Justice
Sixth graders study restorative justice. In this government instructional activity, 6th graders discuss restorative justice, examine the ways restitution can be made when a crime occurs, and write about a conflict at home or school and...
Curated OER
Social Responsibility Need - Versus - Greed
Students look at situations where people's rights have been infringed. They stimulate thought and action regarding use of our resources and respecting diversity. They respect those who have different beliefs/customs and appreciate...
Curated OER
Living to Avoid The Criminal Justice System
Students brainstorm a list of negative stereotypes in the African-American society. In groups, they develop ways to decrease the chance of them living in poverty and being in trouble with the law. They develop ways to solve problems...
Developing a Global Perspective for Educators
Imagine Being Me
The design of this two-day lesson eloquently exposes learners to the topic of social justice for people with disabilities. The plan is built off the reading of Are You Alone on Purpose? by Nancy Werlin. The activity introduces...
Curated OER
Gandhi's Non-violent Revolutions: Examining Tools to Make Non-violent
Young scholars analyze Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent social change. In this nonviolence and social change lesson, students research a leader from the attached list who practiced nonviolent social change. Young scholars write their...