Balanced Learning Resources
Lesson Plans

Grades 6-12. Students watch a hidden-camera scenario where a family with same-sex parents is refused restaurant service. Students identify what’s unfair, analyze how bystanders and upstanders respond, and practice (via role play) 10 Upstander Steps that are kind, safe, truthful, and inclusive. As students learn upstander skills, they discover how to make public spaces safer and more respectful for everyone.

Grades 6-12. Students analyze a hidden-camera scenario from What Would You Do? in which a Muslim couple is denied restaurant service because of their appearance. Using 10 Upstander Steps, students evaluate how bystanders respond and identify which reactions show courage, kindness, and inclusion. Students then discuss and role-play what they themselves can say or do to stand up for others when prejudice or unkind behavior occurs.

Grades 3-5. Students explore the idea of fairness by watching short, familiar movie clips that show fair and unfair choices. Using a kid-friendly Justice Checklist, they learn how kindness, safety, and inclusion guide fair actions that help everyone feel valued and respected.

Grades: K-2. In this lesson, students use a kid-friendly Justice Checklist to spot unfair moments, find fair fixes, and practice kindness, safety, and inclusion through role-play.

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 9-12. Students will examine the civil rights movement through two key films: Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech and The March (1964), a restored documentary on the March on Washington. After viewing, students will use 10 criteria to evaluate whether the movement meets the standards of a true social justice movement.

Grades 9-12. This lesson invites students to evaluate the Free Palestine Movement’s protests through 10 Criteria to analyze a Social Justice Movement. Students will examine activist messaging that uses social justice language. By applying the 10 Criteria Framework, students will use these critical thinking tools to analyze this movement and other historical movements.

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.

Grades 9-12. In this lesson, students will explore the contradictions of the American Revolution, particularly regarding slavery and inequality, and how these flaws led to movements for abolition, women’s suffrage, and civil rights.

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.

Grades 9-12. In this lesson, students will watch the informative and endearing documentary RBG (2018) and reflect on the life and career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020), a Jewish American. Students will explore her contributions to gender equality and civil rights and discuss how her legacy continues to influence the American legal system and our society today. Through this lesson, students will analyze the role of the judiciary in shaping laws and so

Grades 6-8. Haym Salomon was a Jewish immigrant, financier, and unsung hero of the American Revolution who played a crucial role in securing funds for the war effort. Born in Poland in 1740, he immigrated to America in 1772 and became a successful merchant and banker.