4.3: Freedom

In this activity students are introduced to the concept of freedom and the impact of being denied that right.

Tasks

Introduce the concept of freedom to the class explaining that in some political contexts around the world, individuals including children, are denied certain personal freedoms.
Lead a class discussion asking students to think about how would they would feel if they were denied some basic freedoms such as they:
- had to work from the age of 7 years
- were not allowed or could not afford to go to school
- were not safe to walk outside alone
- had family members or parents taken away
- were forced to leave their homelands
- were not allowed to go to associate with certain groups of people etc.
As a follow up to this discussion, ask students to think of examples of people who have fought for freedom and human rights e.g. Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Martin Luther King, Charles Perkins, Mary Robinson, Lois Donoghue etc. Record students' examples on the board or on butcher's paper.
As a library research or internet search activity, ask students to select a (past or present) human rights activists and find key facts about the cause they supported and their achievements.
Ask students to present their findings in the form of a report or project.

Teacher Notes

This activity may be conducted over several sessions.
Teachers may need to provide examples of human rights activists and assist students to identify lesser known human rights activists.

Activity adapted from Political Activists in HALL, Nadia Saderman, Creative Resources for the Anti-Bias Classroom, Delmar Publishers, 1999.

Resources