Every Day is Children’s Rights Day
Using a children’s rights diary, students explore which rights children have and what the consequences would be if these rights were not granted. In this activity, they reflect on their own life situations and compare them with those of other children.
| Age group | 11 – 14 years |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 to 3 lessons, depending on intensity and variation |
| Learning goals & outcomes |
|
| Methods | Individual work, small group work, discussion |
| Source / Author | polis aktuell 4/2015: Politische Bildung im Lehrplan GSK/PB Sek I (2016). Handreichung für die 6. Schulstufe (aktualisiert 2016). Translation with permission of Zentrum polis. |
| Values | This lesson is based on the values of human dignity, equality, and respect that underpin human and children’s rights. It helps students understand that rights are universal and essential for a fair society by connecting them to their own experiences and those of others. At the same time, it fosters empathy, awareness of injustice, and a sense of responsibility, encouraging learners to see themselves as active participants in promoting and protecting children’s rights. |
Didactic notes
The following lesson proposal aims to encourage learners to explore children’s rights by connecting them to their own everyday experiences and the lives of other children. It seeks to develop an understanding that children’s rights are universal human rights and that they are essential for ensuring dignity, equality, and participation for every child.
At the centre of the lesson is a children’s rights diary, complemented by individual reflection, collaborative group work, and a final class discussion. Learners are encouraged to relate the rights set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to different life situations, compare perspectives, and identify situations in which rights are respected or violated. By reflecting on their own experiences and those of others, learners strengthen their empathy, deepen their understanding of children’s rights, and develop the civic knowledge and critical thinking needed to recognise injustice and promote respect for human rights.
Material & Downloads
Copies of the worksheet “Every Day is Children’s Rights Day” (see materials)
Copies of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in child-friendly language (e.g. from https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/convention-text-childrens-version)
Pictures of children in different life situations
Flipchart paper, markers
Introduction: Children’s Rights in Everyday Life
Introduce the topic of children’s rights by either carrying out the exercise “Sailing to a new land” (Compass-Activity, p. 180) and/or working through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in child-friendly language with the students (e.g. from UNESCO).
Exploring Children’s Rights in Everyday Life
Form small groups and distribute the worksheet “Every Day is Children’s Rights Day” (download below). Students first complete the worksheet individually and then compare their results.
In the next step, provide each group with several pictures of children in different life situations. Each group agrees on one picture and collaboratively creates a daily routine for the child shown. They note the time, activity, and the relevant right, following the template. Explain to the students that a right may sometimes not be fulfilled, and they should note this as well.
Reflecting on Children’s Rights
Afterwards, the students present their results to the class. Compare the results and use the final discussion to inform them about the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in your country.
Variation: You can of course do the same activity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the European Convention of Human Rights.