Teaching Methodology Amnesty International presentation

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

          Introduction to 

Learning outcomes

• Students can understand the history and mission of Amnesty International 
• Students can discuss the value and importance of human rights and the organisations that protect human rights
• Students can critically analyze three areas of Amnesty International’s work, evaluate the challenges faced, and apply their understanding to develop actionable insights for their own personal advocacy plan
• Students can actively use newly acquired vocabulary as related to human rights 

Agenda

• Writing for Rights - 5 mins
• Amnesty's history and what they do - 15 mins
• Quiz - 5 mins
  
• Discussion - 10 mins
• Reading - 20 mins
• Exit ticket and homework - 5 mins

Establishment of the organisation

Peter Bennenson founded Amnesty International in 1961 because a group of Portuguese students were arrested for raising a toast to freedom.

Amnesty's Mission & Key rights

Enjoy the human rights enshrined in the 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

Protect freedom of expression

Freedom from torture

Right to a fair trial

Research - 5 minutes

• Have a look at Amnesty Internationals website.
• Skim through their mission statement, strategies, the countries they are active in and, who they are

www.amnesty.org

np1.nearpod.com

What year was Amnesty International founded?

1. 1945
2. 1961
3. 1978
4. 1989

What prompted Peter Benenson to start Amnesty International?

1. A book he read about human rights abuses.
2. The arrest of students in Portugal for raising a toast to freedom.
3. A visit to a wartorn country.
4. An attack on a human rights lawyer.

What is the main mission of Amnesty International?

1. To provide education for children in developing countries.
2. To campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.
3. To support victims of natural disasters.
4. To promote global trade and economic policies.

How does Amnesty International ensure it remains independent and unbiased?

1. By refusing government funding and relying on member donations.
2. By only working in countries with democratic governments.
3. By accepting funding from the United Nations.
4. By partnering only with nonprofit organizations.

Amnesty International works to protect freedom of expression, freedom from torture, and which other key right?

1. Right to privacy
2. Right to participate in government
3. Right to a fair trial
4. Right to free education

Which powerful tool does Amnesty International use to create change?

1. Political lobbying
2. Armed resistance
3. Public pressure and petitions
4. Financial incentives

According to the website, how many countries does Amnesty International operate in?

1. 10
2. 50
3. More than 150
4. More than 200

Which of the following is NOT a method used by Amnesty International to achieve its goals?

1. Public mobilization
2. Legal action
3. Armed intervention
4. Advocacy

What kind of cases does Amnesty International particularly focus on?
A) Highprofile celebrity cases.

1. Highprofile celbrity cases
2. Instances of local government corruption
3. Cases where human rights are violated
4. Environmental pollution cases

Discussion time - 5 minutes

Instructions
In pairs or small groups discuss: 

• Why are human rights important?
• How do human rights relate to Citizenship?

Finished: Answer the below question

• How would you personally define human rights? 
• Now share your answers with another pair

Reading time -  15 minutes

Instructions
Go to Amnesty International's website, to the "What we do" tab and select three areas of interest that Amnesty work in to read up on.

Tip: Take notes

Reading reflection and homework

Answer these questions and upload to your citizenship portfolio:

-What are the main problems Amnesty International faces in the areas you chose? How do these problems make their work harder?

-How do the issues in the areas you read about affect the people involved? How can understanding these effects help you later if you choose to advocate for one of these causes?

-What methods does Amnesty International use to tackle the issues in your chosen areas? Which methods do you think work best, and why? How could they improve?

-How can you use what you learned from these readings in your own advocacy plan? What specific actions could you take to help with the issues you explored?

Citizenship Portfolio & Personal Advocacy Plan

Homework:
As part of your homework, read through the assessment criteria and rubric and have a look at the expectations for the final assignment. Bring your questions to the next lesson if this is unclear.

Answer the reading reflection questions and upload to your citizenship portfolio.

What is one important thing you learned about Amnesty International today, and why do you think it’s important?

What is one question you still have about today’s topic or something you’d like to learn more about?

Today's lesson was fun!

Yes, it was engaging and informative.

No, it was boring and unproductive.

Yes, it was too easy and lacked challenge.

No, it was too difficult and overwhelming.