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. Background information and video links make the class easy to teach, and projects will ensure interest and participation.
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. This work will help to develop lifelong social activists, grounded in their Unitarian Universalist identity. There are eight social justice issues provided, plus directions on creating your own social action project for another issue. All projects may be used in any congregation, regardless of size, and in any geographic locality.
These social action projects seek to help participants learn that change is possible through multiple avenues, and can happen whether the problem is 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.
Some of the content of this curriculum previously appeared in the curriculum "Harry and UU", copyright 2014, Karen Hager.
This curriculum is also contained in its entirety in "The Magic of UU", also available on this website. If you are looking for social action projects with wizarding activities, please visit that page.
Your class will work on real-world social justice issues throughout the year, engaging in social action projects designed to be both relevant to tweens and teens and in which they can experience making a tangible difference. Although any wrong that needs to be righted can be chosen for a project, this curriculum provides the outline for social action projects on eight social justice issues. Also included is a template for a disaster or humanitarian aid social action project, intended to allow your class to provide help, should the need occur during the year. Instructions are also included for creating your own projects.
The social justice issues discussed are:
Instructions are also provided for customizing the projects for your class and geographic area, as well as how to create your own social action project. Your class will be capable of producing amazing results!
Here is what one class of 4th and 5th graders were able to achieve in 9 months: