Lesson Five: Working for Change

Grade Level: 7/8                                              Subject Area: Social Studies
Time Needed: 2-3 60 minute class periods        Topic: Modern Day Slavery


Lesson Essential Question: How do we respond to the existence of slavery in the world, and what are some action steps we can take?

Materials Needed:

·         Means to play Kevin Bales’ TED Talk http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/30/bales.end.slavery/index.html?hpt=Mid
·         Poster board
·         Markers, crayons, colored pencils

Objectives/Goals:
Students will be able to discuss current steps being taken to end slavery.
Students will be able to synthesize what they have learned throughout the unit to develop an educational resource about modern day slavery.

 Lesson Context: This lesson takes place during a unit focused on modern day slavery (also called human trafficking), with the overarching goal of teaching about slavery within the context of human rights and responsibilities. 


Lesson Opening: Discuss what students have been learning about over the past several lessons on slavery.  Review the relationship between slavery and human rights, what constitutes slavery, what it looks like today,  and how we are connected with slavery.

Procedures:

·         Watch Kevin Bales’ TED talk.  This 20 minute video offers a brief overview of why slavery exists as well as why we should be hopeful about the possibility of ending slavery for good.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/30/bales.end.slavery/index.html?hpt=Mid

·         Discuss what Kevin Bales says in the video that can give us hope for ending slavery:

·         Ex-slaves are helping to educate those currently enslaved

·         Smaller percentage of population in slavery than ever before

·         When the slaves of the American south were emancipated, they were unsupported and it created lasting problems between races.  Slave liberators now work to counsel and prepare ex-slaves to live sustainable, free lives without fear of falling back into slavery. 

·         In groups of 3 or 4, have students create a visual that can educate others about slavery.  This could be in the form of a brochure, poster, power point, etc. The visual should include the following:

·         Definition of slavery

·         Types of slavery and where they exist

·         The relationship between slavery and human rights

·         How slavery affects us as consumers

·         Some strategies for helping to end slavery.  These might include being educated consumers, educating others, and supporting anti-slavery groups

·         Give each group the opportunity to share their visual.

 

Closing:  Debrief the unit.  Have the students journal about what they feel in relation to the lesson.  What did you learn in this unit?  How has this made you feel?  What, if any, changes need to be made either in your own life or in the world based on what you have learned.  Discuss these questions as a class.  Allow students to share journal entries if they choose.

Assessment:  This final lesson also serves as a unit assessment.  The visuals created by groups serve as a formal assessment of student understanding of the entire unit.  They will serve to demonstrate whether students have grasped the concepts taught throughout the unit.  They require that students synthesize the information studied throughout the unit into an educational piece which can adequately describe slavery to others.  This provides a formal, summative assessment for the entire unit.