As a child, what are those rights and what can you do to uphold them? Phoebe Lill explores advocacy in this KS2 human rights lesson.
As human beings, we all have fundamental rights and freedoms. Children need to understand this, know they have their own rights and learn to stand up for what is important to them.
This lesson introduces children to human rights and advocacy. They learn that they have their own rights, relate these to everyday life in the classroom and think about what stands in the way of their rights being met.
Having identified things they want to change, they will plan how to speak up and take action.
Human rights KS2 learning objectives
- Understand that children have their own rights
- Relate these rights to their own life
- Discuss and share opinions on issues that affect them
- Understand what advocacy is
- Start to plan how to bring about change
Starter activity
The starting point for this lesson is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Since its adoption in 1989, 196 countries have signed up to this legally binding agreement, which sets out the social, cultural, civil, political and economic rights of every child.
Child-friendly versions of the CRC are available online (check out organisations like Unicef and Save the Children).
In preparation for the lesson, display the content in the classroom. Identify five statements (‘articles’) you think are most relevant to the children’s life at school and make a note of their numbers.
Phoebe Lill is schools fundraising manager for Sport Relief.
