| Welcome back, kids!
You have just spent seven weeks discussing
the rights that all kids should have.  Everyone
has basic rights but because you are young, people
are more likely to forget about or ignore your rights.
That's why some adults got together and wrote the
Articles. This is an international agreement that
is part of the work of the United Nations.
Our last week together you will take a close look at the previous weeks' topics and create your own "Kids' Bill of Rights." You will discuss ways to share your feelings about kids' rights. It is time now for you to take a stand, be heard and do all you can to make people realize that kids everywhere do not even have all the basic rights that you enjoy.
Discussion Questions
- What are 10 things that all kids everywhere should have? Tell the group why you think these 10 are the most important things. See activity #1 below. Using each class Bill of Rights work together as a whole group and create one "Kids' Bill of Rights" for this project.
- Do you think all kids have these rights today?
- If you had to be denied two of the rights on your list which two would you choose? Tell the group why.
- What do your parents think about your desired rights? How can you live with the situation you're facing if they do not agree?
- Do you think that along with rights come responsibilities?
- Do kids' rights and responsibilities differ from teachers' rights and responsibilities?
- Do you know any places where kids do not have the rights you listed above? What are the rights that these kids are lacking? Do you think this is fair? Do you think there is a way to make things better for them?
- Use a WWW search engine and learn more about countries where children do not have many rights. Share your findings with our group.
- What can you do now to make the world a better place for all kids? Think about the fourth Kidlink question that you answered.
Classroom Activities
- Write your own 'Kids' Bill of Rights'
- Divide your class into small groups and decide on 10 things that all young people everywhere should have. Write these on a large sheet of paper.
- Display your chart and explain it to the rest of the class. Do you have all the things on your Bill? What prevents you from having them?
- Make one "Kids' Bill of Rights" for your class.
- Make a banner with the Bill of Rights and display it in the classroom.
- Make a collage or drawing using chalk, watercolors, or ink that shows what you think your 10 most important rights are. Display these art works for all in your school to see.
- Search the World Wide Web to find places where children around the world do not have rights that you have. What sources did you find? Is the information reliable? How do you know?
- List ways you can help these children have more rights.
- List 5 things which should be done in the classroom to make sure that all are happy and safe.
- Discuss your responsibilites to your school. As a class, agree on one responsibility that can be improved. Do a project that will help this responsibility become a reality.
- Make a chart with two columns - 'rights' and 'responsibilities.' List rights and the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand. Add your own ideas to the chart.
| Rights | Responsibilities |
|---|
| to be listened to |
to listen to others |
| to be respected |
to treat others with respect |
|
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- Prepare an assembly for your school about your Bill of Rights. Invite the media to come and film your performance and write about you in the local newspapers.
- Volunteer to visit other classrooms in your school and talk to the students about the rights of all children.
- Write articles for your school newsletter and community newspaper about children's rights.
- Ask to speak to community groups about your 'What Are My Rights?' project.
- Do research on organizations dedicated to helping secure children's rights around the world.
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