Balanced Learning Resources
Lesson Plans

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 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.