Balanced Learning Resources
Lesson Plans

Grades 3-5. Students learn why Constitution Day is observed on September 17th and how the U.S. Constitution helps organize government, protect rights, and unite people under shared rules. Students connect the Constitution to the idea of a social contract: people agree to shared responsibilities so a community can function fairly. After watching two short videos, students complete engaging worksheets that help them identify key ideas and connect rights with responsibilities.

Grades K-2. Students learn that the Constitution is an important document with rules that is a shared agreement about how Americans are to treat each other. Using simple language, visuals, and a short video, students connect the Constitution to their own classroom community. Together, students create, sign and display a classroom constitution poster that they agree to follow during the school year.

Grades 9-12. Students learn about the Stonewall Uprising as a key moment in the history of human rights in the United States. Through video, discussion, and guided analysis, students examine what happened before Stonewall, why people’s human rights were not being protected, and how democratic systems can allow people to speak up, organize, challenge unfair treatment, and work toward expanding rights over time.

Grades 3-5. In this lesson students watch the video The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss, to learn what prejudice is and how to respond to unkind behavior with empathy and courage. After discussing key themes from the video, students learn the 10 Upstander Steps and work in small groups to create and perform their own role-plays showing how an upstander can help in a hurtful situation.

Grades K-2. In this Super Monsters episode, the young monsters make unkind, prejudiced jokes about ogres without realizing how hurtful their words can be.

Grades 6-12. In this lesson, students watch the What Would You Do? segment “Antisemitism and Jewish Discrimination: What Would You Do?” which places unsuspecting bystanders in situations where Jewish people experience discrimination in a public setting.

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.