Subject: Human dignity, rights and common good
Grade Level: Grade 11
Objective:
1. recognize the value of human rights and promote the common good
Learning within the curriculum:
1. Understanding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: This topic explores the
fundamental rights that every person is entitled to, providing a framework for
recognizing human dignity. It connects to the current lesson by establishing a basis
for understanding the importance of promoting the common good through respect for
these rights.
2. The Role of Government in Protecting Human Rights: This topic discusses how
governments are responsible for upholding human rights and ensuring the common
good for their citizens. It extends the objective by illustrating the practical implications
of recognizing human rights in governance and societal structures.
Learning across the curriculum:
1. Social Studies - Civic Responsibilities: This topic involves understanding the role
of citizens in a democracy, highlighting their responsibilities toward ensuring the
common good. This connects with the lesson by demonstrating how individual
actions can support the recognition of human rights.
2. Literature - Analyzing Social Justice Themes in Novels: This topic allows students
to explore human rights issues through literature, fostering empathy and
understanding. It connects with the lesson by illustrating how narratives can promote
awareness and inspire action toward the common good.
Elicit:
Teaching Strategy: Discussion
Instructional Materials: None required
Anecdote 1: Reflect on a time when you witnessed someone standing up for
another person’s rights, perhaps in your community or at school. How did that action
impact you and those around?
Anecdote 2: Think about a local issue where people’s rights were not respected.
How did the community come together to address this problem, and what lessons
can we learn from it?
Engage:
Teaching Strategy: Interactive Learning
Instructional Materials: None required
Energizer 1: Human Rights Charades - Students will take turns acting out different
human rights without speaking while the rest of the class guesses the right to be
portrayed. This energizer promotes awareness of various human rights in a fun and
engaging manner.
Energizer 2: Circle of Voices - Students will form a circle and share one human right
they believe is important. This inclusive activity requires no materials and
encourages everyone's participation, fostering a sense of community.
Explore:
Activities
Activity 1: Human Rights Advocacy Poster
Teaching Strategy: Project-Based Learning
Materials: Art supplies (paper, markers, crayons)
Significance: This activity allows students to creatively express their understanding
of a specific human right and its importance in promoting the common good.
Instructions:
1. Choose a human right that resonates with you.
2. Create a poster that illustrates this right and explains its significance to society.
3. Present your poster to the class, explaining why this right is essential to the
common good.
Rubrics:
- Creativity and Originality: 10 pts.
- Clarity of Message: 10 pts.
- Presentation Skills: 10 pts.
Assessment Questions:
1. What human right did you choose and why?
2. How does your poster reflect the importance of that right?
3. What impact do you hope your poster will have on others?
Activity 2: Role Play on Human Rights Scenarios
Teaching Strategy: Cooperative Learning
Materials: Scenario cards (prepared in advance)
Significance: This activity enables students to engage in role-playing to understand
the implications of human rights violations and the importance of advocacy.
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a scenario
involving a human rights issue.
2. Discuss the scenario and decide how to address the violation presented.
3. Present your group's role play to the class, demonstrating your understanding of
the issue and proposed solutions.
Rubrics:
- Understanding of Scenario: 10 pts.
- Group Collaboration: 10 pts.
- Creativity in Presentation: 10 pts.
Assessment Questions:
1. What human rights issue did your group address?
2. Why is it important to advocate for this issue?
3. What solutions did your group propose to address the violation?
Explain:
The main point of the objective is to instill an understanding of human rights and the
significance of promoting the common good within society. Recognizing the value of
human rights allows individuals to appreciate their role in fostering a just and
equitable community. Understanding the interconnectedness of rights and
responsibilities helps students grasp how individual actions contribute to the
collective well-being of society.
Concept 1 - The Interdependence of Rights: Human rights are interrelated and
cannot be fully realized in isolation. Each right supports and enhances others,
creating a comprehensive framework for dignity and justice. Recognizing this
interdependence helps students understand that promoting one right often leads to
the enhancement of others, reinforcing the common good.
Concept 2 - The Role of Empathy in Human Rights: Empathy is crucial in
recognizing and respecting the rights of others. When students learn to empathize
with those whose rights are violated, they become more motivated to advocate for
justice and equality. This understanding fosters a culture of respect and action
toward promoting the common good in their communities.
Elaborate:
Teaching Strategy: Experiential Learning
1. Task: Organize a community service project where students can volunteer to help
a local organization that advocates for human rights.
2. Task: Host a forum where students can discuss human rights issues with local
leaders or activists, allowing them to engage with real-world applications of their
learning.
Discussion: After completing these tasks, students will reflect on their experiences
and discuss how these activities relate to the importance of recognizing human rights
and promoting the common good.
Evaluate:
Teaching Strategy: Formative Assessment
Questions:
1. What is one human right you believe is often overlooked in society?
2. How can individuals contribute to promoting the common good in their
communities?
3. What role does education play in recognizing and advocating for human rights?
For Higher Order Thinking Skills:
Questions:
1. How would you explain the relationship between human rights and social justice to
someone unfamiliar with the concepts?
2. In what ways can literature influence our understanding of human rights?
3. What are the potential consequences of ignoring human rights in a society?
Answers:
1. The relationship can be explained as human rights being the foundational
elements of social justice, ensuring that everyone has equitable access to resources
and opportunities.
2. Literature can challenge societal norms and highlight injustices, fostering empathy
and prompting readers to take action for human rights.
3. Ignoring human rights can lead to social unrest, inequality, and a breakdown of
trust in institutions, ultimately harming societal cohesion.
Extend:
Teaching Strategy: Inquiry-Based Learning
Instructional Materials: None required
Usecase 1: Students can create a community awareness campaign to educate
others about a specific human right, applying their knowledge to advocate for change
in their local context. This project encourages them to use their learning in a practical
way that impacts their community.
Usecase 2: Students may engage in a dialogue with peers from different cultural
backgrounds to discuss various interpretations of human rights, promoting cross-
cultural understanding and respect. This engagement allows them to apply their
knowledge in diverse contexts, reinforcing the importance of recognizing and
respecting human rights globally.
Assignment:
1. Write a reflective essay on a human rights issue that matters to you. Discuss its
significance, how it affects the common good, and what actions can be taken to
promote awareness and advocacy. This assignment encourages independent
research and critical thinking about real-world applications of the lesson.
