Preparing students for their future success requires consistent application and reinforcement of the of the 4Cs of 21st Century skills – Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity. As educators work to incorporate these skills into all subjects, aligning lessons on key, timely topics can help ensure that students are developing knowledge that will both help them understand the world around them AND establish their readiness for the global community.
Each year, the United Nations recognizes December 10th at Human Rights Day, commemorating the date on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This year, you can help you students explore fundamental Human Rights principles, while building their capacity in the 4Cs with resources from Speak Truth to Power, a program developed in partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in an effort to inspire the next generation of human rights defenders.
The Speak Truth to Power Master Class series highlights five incredible human rights educators, sharing strategies to help other teachers implement human rights education in the classroom. One video features Michelle Haddox, an AP US History teacher in Indianapolis demonstrating best practices for using the program’s expansive content to teach students to identify problems in the world around them and then take steps to solve them. Using the stories of human rights defenders around the globe, Michelle inspires students to think critically about the human rights issues our world faces and explore their own ability to positively impact the lives of others.
Other areas of focus in the series include using the program content to:
- Promote social and emotional learning
- Prepare students for C3 standards
- Provide students with real-world applications of learning
With a variety of flexible content, including student activities, a virtual field, the interactive defenders map and all-new family activities to extend the learning at home, Speak Truth to Power offers resources to help all educators start crucial conversations in their communities and teach the problem-solvers of tomorrow.
Each of the Master Class videos can be found at SpeakTruthtoPowerinSchool.com or on the Speak Truth to Power Channel in Discovery Education Experience.