Grades 3-5. Students learn about the United Nations and how international organizations work together to help people during global challenges such as war, natural disasters, and displacement. Through a short video, discussion, and guided questioning, students examine what the UN is meant to do, how organizations attempt to solve problems, and why it is important to ask thoughtful questions about whether solutions are working effectively.

Grades 6-12. This lesson introduces students to the United Nations, its purpose, structure, and key bodies (General Assembly and Security Council). Students explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, examine which countries are democracies, and research member states to discuss how political differences affect UN decision-making.

Grades 6-12. Students learn about the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its mission to protect and assist people who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, or disaster. Through two short videos and guided discussion, students explore how UNHCR operates, the services it provides, and how international cooperation helps address refugee crises.

Grades 9-12. Students investigate how rights function in practice for Black communities across five different global regions. Using short videos, a verified resource sheet, and a consistent four-indicator framework, students collect evidence, learn about regional systems, and analyze graphs to identify patterns and differences. The lesson focuses on the difference between rights on paper and rights in daily life.

Grade 7-12: Students watch a brief World Vision video exploring girls’ lives in diverse global communities and seven ways to empower them and end child marriage. Students take guided notes, reflect on the freedoms girls have in Western democracies, and then discuss with peers and the class. The lesson concludes with a choice activity in art, writing, or analysis to show their understanding.

Grade 12 and older. This lesson examines U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s decision to speak at the United Nations on December 4, 2023, criticizing the UN for failing to condemn sexual violence committed against Israeli and foreign national women during the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks. Students will analyze international human rights law, explore institutional silence, and consider the role of individuals—especially women leaders—in speaking up for justice.

Grade: 7-10. In Nazi-occupied Poland during WWII, Irena Sendler, a 29-year-old Catholic social worker, risked her life to smuggle 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. Working with a network of brave resistors and inspired by people like Dr. Janusz Korczak, she forged documents, coordinated secret escapes, and hid children with Polish families and in convents — preserving not just their lives, but their identities and future.

Grades 6-12. Students will learn about Hungary during WWII and how Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved tens of thousands of Jewish people during the Holocaust. After reviewing a short historical timeline and the “10 Upstander Steps,” students watch videos about Wallenberg and survivor Agnes Adachi to identify how he acted with courage and moral leadership.

Grades 6-12. Students will learn about Lithuania during WWII and how Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat, saved thousands of Jewish refugees by issuing transit visas—defying the strict orders of his own government. After reviewing a brief historical timeline and the “10 Upstander Steps,” students watch a video about Sugihara’s life to identify how he acted with courage and moral responsibility.

Grades 7-12. Students will explore the Soviet Jewry Freedom Movement through two powerful videos: U.S. Representative John Lewis Speaking for Soviet Jews (1987) and The Soviet Jewry Freedom Movement (Unpacked). By examining this historical social justice movement, students will gain insight into the broader themes of advocacy, solidarity, and global human rights. Using a set of 10 criteria, students will critically analyze the movement’s structure, impact, and legacy, applyin

Grades 9-12. Students apply 10 objective criteria to analyze a social justice movement that is widely noted for its non‑violent, dignity‑centered tactics: the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia (Nov–Dec 1989). Using short videos and primary‑source snippets, learners test whether the movement’s goals, methods, and outcomes align with genuine social justice for all, or reveal red flags.

Grades 7-8. This lesson uses historical case studies of authoritarian regimes to help students tell the difference between authentic justice movements and propaganda movements that use justice-themed language to hide censorship, control, or oppression. Students will analyze how governments in Soviet Russia, Maoist China, and Communist Cuba used powerful ideas like “equality,” “liberation,” and “protection” — not to empower people — but to brainwash, punish dissent, and silenc

Grades 8-12. This lesson begins with The Path to Nazi Genocide, a short introductory documentary that examines how the Nazis systematically excluded Jews from society and justified escalating violence. Students are given 10 criteria with which to measure a social movement in order to think critically about how ideology and propaganda can shape collective behavior. The second part of the lesson features The Wave, a dramatization of a real 1967 high school experiment in Califor

Grades: 8-12. Explore our lesson plan for grades 8-12 on the Russian Revolution. Featuring a concise video, key events, and critical analysis of its social justice impact, this resource includes objectives, discussion questions, and activities to foster critical thinking and empathy.

Grades 10-12. This lesson explores the political and social upheaval that led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the Shah's exit from power. It discusses the Shah’s modernization efforts, which were overturned by the revolution, and how the resulting hardline Islamist regime reshaped the Middle East and the world. The lesson highlights Iran's role in supporting extremist groups and fueling regional instability, touching on the Palestinian Intifada and global terrorism.

Grade level: 6-12. This lesson introduces students to how the United States and European Union have worked to protect and advance the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Students will explore historical milestones, legal protections, and ongoing struggles for equality, while learning why these rights are fundamental to free and fair societies.

Grades 10-12. Hidden Letters is a haunting and lyrical documentary that uncovers the secret language of Nüshu—a script invented and passed down in whispers among generations of Chinese women, who, confined by patriarchal norms and silenced by tradition, found solace in each other through the written word. In a world where women were forbidden to learn or express themselves freely, Nüshu became more than a language—it was a lifeline.

Grades: 9-12. This mini documentary "LGBTQ+ in Today's China" explores the growing visibility and representation of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Chinese society, focusing on shifting public attitudes, media portrayal, and inclusive marketing campaigns. It highlights the role of social media in community-building despite ongoing censorship and traditional cultural challenges.

Grade 9-12. In many parts of the Middle East, LGBTQIA+ individuals face severe discrimination, with same-sex relationships criminalized in some countries and punishable by imprisonment or even death, forcing many to hide their identities. Despite these dangers, activists and allies continue to push for legal reforms and safe spaces.

Grades 3-5. In this lesson, students will watch the informative and engaging PBS mini-biography Louis Brandeis: The First Jewish Supreme Court Justice and reflect on the life and legacy of Justice Louis Brandeis (1856–1941), a trailblazing Jewish American. Students will explore his contributions to civil liberties, workers' rights, and the foundational right to privacy.