SPRING TERM ACTION
Right Here Right Now Rally
Ongoing Action
In this school-based action, we are encouraging you to rally locally—around your class, your school, or your community—to raise awareness of children’s rights.
We are supporting the Right Here Right Now Rally, which highlights children’s rights and is being called for by the ARK.
We believe that children should be heard and seen, and this can best be done by holding a rally where they are, as they explore children’s rights.
Our lesson is divided into 4 distinct parts.
FIRSTLY, we would like you to explore what exactly children’s rights are by:
- Reviewing the poster below.
- Following up with a discussion.
- Watching the video.
There are four general principles that underpin all children’s rights:
- Non-discrimination
- The best interests of the child
- The right to survival and development
- The views of the child
You can read a little bit more here.
We would then invite you to DISPLAY and DISCUSS the poster of the Children’s Rights with the children in your class.
This can be found here and below.
You can also view or download the full poster document using the link below:
SECONDLY we would like you to help your students to speak to other classes or indeed at a school assembly on what they have learned about Children’s Right with a view to preparing for their Right Here Right Now Class / School Rally.
WHAT NEXT?
We encourage children, along with their teacher, to explain to other classes or at a school assembly what children’s rights mean to them and why we should all be concerned about these rights.
In this way, others might be inspired to join them in a rally!
In order to prepare for the rally or march…
We must:
- Prepare posters
- Create slogans
- Advertise the rally and encourage others to join in
- Consider creating a song or a poem for the rally
THIRDLY we would like you to help your students to organise and hold the RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Rally
And when the rally is on…
Record the Event with photos or video and then post photos, slogans, videos to the #ShareTheLove
FOURTHLY we would like you to help your students POST A PHOTO of their Rally to the hashtag #RightHereRightNow.
The Children’s Rally will be the pinnacle moment of Right Here Right Now! The Ark’s Festival of Children and we want YOU to join in!
Spring 2022 Action
#ShareTheLove Lesson
To be taught during the week of Feb 14th (Valentine’s Day)
Objective
To take acts of kindness for children’s wellbeing
Watch the Video
- For the Junior Classes (1 min 30 sec): Watch here
- For the Senior Classes (2 min 40 sec): Watch here
Discussion – The 5 Ways to Wellbeing
- Take Notice
- Connecting with others
- Learning something new
- Small acts of kindness
- Moving your body
Action
Taking action with or for someone helps our own wellbeing. Encourage children to choose simple actions like:
- Visiting, donating, cleaning
- Helping out, gardening, befriending
- Playing, making
Share the Action
Create a graphic, photo, or artwork showing the action. Share it on Twitter with #ShareTheLove or email it to info@globalcitizenshipschool.ie.
Also for Older Pupils
Watch: David Attenborough and Mental Health
Examples of Actions
- Listening, phoning, visiting
- Donating old toys
- Cleaning at home, school, or the community
- Litter picking, helping with homework
- Reusing, recycling
- Writing to someone, planting seeds
- Making a handmade gift or card
Learn a Life Skill
- Making a sandwich or tea
- Cooking, ironing, hoovering
- Budgeting, mowing, weeding
- Baking, simple meal prep
- Using a map, wrapping a gift, doing laundry
Share What You Enjoy
- Flying a kite, cooking, snowball fight
- Snail race, feeding a bird
- Nature walk, performing a song/dance
- Climbing a tree, inventing a game
- Scavenger hunt, card games
With Others
- Interviewing, making a film
- Using names, saying please/thanks
- Picnic, playing conkers or paddling
- Watching sunrise/sunset, crabbing
- Night walk, bird feeding, leaving water bowls for dogs
Spring 2021 Action
All Different, All Equal – Human Rights Actions
Síad gach atá Difriúl ná gach atá Comhionann
(8ú to 14ú Feabhra 2021 – Lá Vailintín!)
#SpreadTheLove
is our proposed lesson for all primary school classes.
We ask schools to focus, in a positive way, on children in Ireland or abroad who might be seen as different or marginalised.
The timeframe is around Valentine’s Day (14th Feb), and we encourage pupils to reflect on the links between Valentine’s Day, difference, equality, and the hashtag
#SpreadTheLove.
Our suggestion is that children watch the short videos included in the lesson below, discuss them, and then write a Valentine’s rhyme.
They should decorate a poster or card with one verse of their rhyme, pose for a photo behind it (without showing faces), and then:
- Post the photo on Twitter using #SpreadTheLove, or
- Send it to info@GlobalCitizenshipSchool.ie for us to share on our Global Citizenship School media platforms. Please include your school’s name and address.
Spreading the children’s work and making them aware of the results helps them understand that local actions can lead to positive global change —
and that each of us has the power to make a difference.
Download the #SpreadTheLove Lessons
- For Junior Classes:
Click here - For Senior Classes:
Click here
Na Ceachtanna i nGaeilge (Lessons in Irish)
Spring 2021 Action
Riverview ETNS on Twitter
“Powerful messages from our Wren’s class today, who made this video for Global Citizenship Action Day, sharing their views on homelessness today #ahomeforeveryone @EducateTogether @FocusIreland https://t.co/4eomCZJLDL”
Click on the photo above to view the Riverview ETNS video
Global Citizenship School – Human Rights Action Day
Global Citizenship School has organised our 2020 Human Rights Action Day for this week, leading up to Friday, 14th February 2020.
Theme
#AHomeForEveryone
Background
A home is not legally a human right for Irish adults, but it is a legal right for Irish children. Children (birth to 18 years) are entitled in Irish law to have the security of a home,
but unfortunately there are around 4,000 homeless children in Ireland today. A hotel room is not a home.
There are homeless children in primary schools throughout our wealthy country. Across all continents, there are millions of homeless people – many living in camps or in transit, suffering and sometimes dying.
School Action
We are asking classes and schools to discuss the topic of “Homelessness” or “A Home For Everyone” and to create a short, simple video (1–2 minutes) where children share their views.
These videos can be shown in school or shared on the school website or community platforms.
This action requires a small bit of organisation, a smartphone, and can be a very rewarding and impactful activity.
Note
Discretion is important, as there may be children in your class or school who are currently homeless and do not wish to be identified.
Please ensure parental approval for video participation, in line with your school’s policy.
Request
Please post your school’s action on Friday, 14th February using the hashtag
#AHomeForEveryone.
More Info
Pages 6 to 9 of the Focus Ireland / INTO “Homelessness in the Classroom” pack provide excellent background information for teachers to support class discussions.
Please participate in our Human Rights Action, post a short video, and save this website for future actions!