Balanced Learning Resources
Lesson Plans

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.

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