BRINGING TOPICS LIKE THE EU, HUMAN RIGHTS, CITIZENSHIP, POVERTY, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CLOSE TO STUDENTS

by Janos Blasszauer These activities have been designed originally for the Spring Day for Europe 2010 campaign but they can definitely be used in other relevant context.
POLLING THE STUDENTS

Teacher introduces the poll. Here goes an explanation of this activity: Students should receive statements related to the topics of human rights, citizenship, the EU, the environment, and as a matter of fact on anything that the teacher would like students to focus on. Students will have to express their feelings concerning the statements. They are expected to indicate whether they agree, disagree or have no opinion about certain issues. They are supposed to lif up a colour-coded card to indicate this (see the colour code on the PPT file). The statements are read out by the teacher and projected on a screen. After each question a new slide will give some relevant information to students about the topic they have voiced their opinion. In some cases before showing this socalled Info slide a slide which gives further information on a particular topic the statement refers to- the teacher should elicit some possible answers, get feedback from students and make this activity as interactive and engaging as possible. If he/she sees this works well and students are very active then this technique can be used throughout the session.
MUSIC QUIZ

Teacher introduces the music quiz. Students will hear different tunes from some famous songs and they will have to find out the performers name as well as the songs title (e.g Stand up for your right by Bob Marley). All the songs should be related to the topics the class focuses on. The first student who raises his/her hand and gives a correct answer should get some kind of reward immediately on the spot. This can give a further boost to the excitement.

MUSIC QUIZ SONGS FOR TEACHING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS

The following are examples of songs that support or raise awareness of human rights.
John Lennon: Give Peace a Chance, Imagine Sarah McLachlan: Shelter John Kongos (South Africa) Hes Gonna Step on You Again Willie Dunn: Charlie Wenjack (Willie Dunn is a Canadian

Aboriginal singer. The song is about 12 year old victim of residential schools who died running away from school in 1966.) Bob Marley (Wailers) Get Up, Stand Up, War Billie Holiday, Strange Fruit, composed by Lewis Allen (real name Abel Meerepol) Gordon Lightfoot: Black Day in July Buffy Ste-Marie: Universal Soldier, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee U2: One, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Refugee Buffalo Springfield: For What Its Worth Joan Baez: We Shall Overcome Bob Dylan: The Times They Are a Changing Sting: They Dance Alone Bruce Cockburn: Its Going Down Slow, Call It Democracy Bryan Adams, David Foster: Tears Are Not Enough The Hollies, Cher, Rufus Wainwright: He Aint Heavy, Hes My Brother Note that there are also many examples of performing artists who have performed in benefit concerts in support of human rights or who have publicly championed human rights causes. Gathering such kind of news clippings about these events and creating a portfolio of Human Rights would be also a nice activity.

Other ideas for songs in support of human rights and character building: Amnesty International, Music for Human Rights: www.amnestyusa.org/musicforhumanrights/artists/artist_orton_beth.html Songs for teaching http://www.songsforteaching.com/charactereducationsongs.htm Some additional useful sites: Risa Song Lyrics Archive http://www.risa.co.uk/sla/ Lyrics Mode http://www.lyricsmode.com/ SongFacts http://www.songfacts.com/ Experience project http://www.experienceproject.com/music_search.php?song=teenagers Using songs in the English Classroom (article) http://www.hltmag.co.uk/apr09/less01.htm Download YouTube videos free http://keepvid.com/ Download YouTube videos free (Xilisoft software) http://www.xilisoft.com/download-youtube-video.html