Procedures

• STEP 1.

  As students view the video clips in this lesson, they should complete the chart on the handout.

  HANDOUT: Advocating for a Cause (Google Doc)

  Students will:

  • Explain the issue that is being advocated for in the video clips

  • Explain why each person is an advocate for the cause

  • Describe the solutions that are being presented to effect change and support the issue

  • Select a cause for which they would like to became an advocate, explain why their chose the issue and describe their plan initiate change

• STEP 2.

  As a class view the following video to provide context.

  VIDEO CLIP: Malala Yousafzai Address to the Canadian Parliament (12:38)

  Human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai addressed a joint session of the Canadian Parliament. She talked about her work as an advocate for the education of girls.

• STEP 3.

  Students may work independently or you can jigsaw your class into groups to view the videos below. You may also want to assign some of the videos for homework in advance of class.

• VIDEO CLIP: Youth Advisory and Advocacy Council (18:50)

  Student members of the Youth Advisory and Advocacy Council delivered a presentation on preventing teen substance abuse at the headquarters of Communities for Alcohol- and Drug-free Youth in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

• VIDEO CLIP: Bullying Prevention: Youth Perspectives (9:56)

  Youth leaders in anti-bullying efforts reported on discussions that were held on what is being done in schools and what was found to work to reduce bullying.

• VIDEO CLIP: Youth Advocacy and Juvenile Justice (4:46)

  Anton Moor and Katherine Burdick, speakers at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, talk about their work on youth issues.

• VIDEO CLIP: Autism (10:48)

  Julia Bascom and Allison Ratto talked about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the programs and policies surrounding it.

• VIDEO CLIP: Youth and Climate Change Lawsuit (7:07)

  Tia Hatton and her attorneys spoke about climate change policy, inlcuding a lawsuit filed by 21 American students, aged 9 - 19, suing President Trump over the U.S. government’s climate change policy, which they claim puts their future in jeopardy. Ms. Hatton is a plaintiff in the case. In early February 2017, lawyers for the young plaintiffs went to federal court in Oregon to substitute President Trump for President Obama as the defendant in the lawsuit. They were seeking a court order to require the government to quickly reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that many scientists say drives global warming.

• STEP 4.

  As a class, discuss the issues that were presented in the videos, why these people are advocating for each cause and the steps they are taking to affect change in society.

  With students, brainstorm a list of issues they would like to see changed. Students can then select a cause for which they would like to became an advocate and write a one page paper explaining why they chose the issue, and their to plan initiate change.