Balanced Learning Resources
Lesson Plans

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 6-12: Students will learn about the life and legacy of the late U.S. Representative John Lewis, a major leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Through two short videos, discussion, and activities, students will explore leadership, nonviolence, and standing 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

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.