Social Action for Tweens & Teens
Grades 4 and up, 8 social justice issues, $45
Although most parents believe social action is important, and most children and youth have a natural desire to make the world better, it can be difficult to find meaningful and relevant social action experiences for tween- and teen-age children.
Social Action for Tweens & Teens provides eight real-world social justice issues with social action projects and activities that immerse children and youth in the idea that we can work to make the world better. These social justice issues and social action projects have been chosen to be both relevant and ones in which tweens and teens can make a tangible difference. Depending on the age of the participant, social action projects can be chosen to allow participants to delve more deeply into social justice work. These projects can be used in RE classrooms, youth group meetings, or Coming of Age programs. They would also be appropriate for a multi-generational group.
Extensive background information and video links make the class easy to teach, and projects will ensure interest and participation. You can choose how much time to devote to an issue: use selected activities for a single class or meeting; or, use the entire section on a given issue to devote several hours of time.
This social justice / action work will help to develop lifelong social activists, grounded in their Unitarian Universalist identity. Participants will learn that change is possible through multiple avenues, and can happen whether problems are local or worldwide. Students will have the opportunity to make a difference in their community and the world in a meaningful way through hands-on projects that will also teach them social responsibility.
Social justice issues included in the curriculum are:
- Illiteracy
- Hunger
- Poverty
- Hatred
- Fair Trade and Child Labor
- Child Sickness
- Animal Cruelty
- The Environment
Instructions are also included to address disaster or humanitarian aid; to create your own social justice/action project; and to customize each project to your class and geographic area. All projects are applicable, regardless of geographic location or congregation size.
Illiteracy
Illiteracy
Illiteracy
The class ran a book drive and collected 420 books for donation to the local Little Free Library program.
Hunger
Illiteracy
Illiteracy
The class ran a food drive, collecting $3070 in cash and food items for a local food pantry. They stocked shelves at the pantry.
Poverty
Illiteracy
Poverty
The class ran a clothing drive for a local non-profit that services low-income county residents, collecting 259 pairs of gloves and mittens, scarves, hats and children's coats. They also made and donated fleece scarves.
Hatred
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Poverty
The class learned about non-biased sources of news information online, and how to respond if they witnessed hatred. They also participated in the Actively Caring for People movement which teaches the lesson of passing kindness forward.
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Fair Trade / Child Labor
The class wrote letters and ran a petition drive, asking Warner Bros. to commit to fair trade chocolate in promotional merchandise. When it was announced that Warner Bros. had made the commitment, the class wrote thank you notes to Warner Bros.
Child Sickness
Fair Trade / Child Labor
Fair Trade / Child Labor
The class made bean soup mix and sold it, raising $380 for the local Ronald McDonald House.
Animal Cruelty
The Environment
The Environment
The class held a “Pennies for Puppies / Koins for Kitties” voting campaign to raise money for the local chapter of the Humane Society, plus a donation drive, using the items in an Easter Egg Hunt to benefit the H.S. Over $900 in cash and items were donated.
The Environment
The Environment
The Environment
The class educated the congregation about the plight of the Monarch butterfly, and raised money by selling “Save the Monarchs” kits. The money was used to place mason bee houses around the congregation's grounds.
