Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by LEEDS 2023 in Partnership with Child Friendly Leeds.

The resource was produced to accompany the Children’s Day: Re-imagined tour to schools for KS2, in December 2023

The content of the pack is designed for KS2 learners and follows elements of the Citizenship curriculum.  It explores the UN Declaration of Human Rights which had its 75th anniversary in 2023.

Curriculum Links

Citizenship:

Pupils should be taught:

  1. to research, discuss and debate topical issues, problems and events.
  2. why and how rules and laws are made and enforced, why different rules are needed in different situations and how to take part in making and changing rules.
  3. to realise the consequences of anti-social and aggressive behaviours, such as bullying and racism, on individuals and communities.
  4. that there are different kinds of responsibilities, rights and duties at home, at school and in the community, and that these can sometimes conflict with each other.

Discussion Ideas

  • What are human rights and why are they important?
  • Why do children have a set of rights which apply to them?
  • Is it possible to rank the rights in order of importance?
  • Whose responsibility is it to ensure human rights are followed?

Activity Ideas

  • Choose one article from the 30 in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and write a 3 minute speech to present to your class on why this is important.
  • Make a poster raising awareness of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
  • Imagine you are on a committee planning a celebration event for the 80th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 2048, how would you plan this?
  • Organise a school assembly to raise awareness of the Rights of the Child
  • Create a drama piece in the style of “Theatre in Education” to educate the audience on the Rights of the Child.
  • Think of an issue that is important to you (for example: stopping racism, deforestation, animal cruelty) and imagine you will go to an event and hold up a banner to raise awareness of this issue.
  • Think about a message you would like to spread. Short and powerful messages are best. Sometimes people make their messages rhyme, so they can chant them in rhythm (a bit like a poem).
  • Create a banner for the message. The banner should be eye-catching and the message should be bold and clear.