Share the importance of International Youth Day with your students. MY HERO's multimedia lesson plan inspires students to be partners in global change.
The theme for International Youth Day 2021 is “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.
Students watch the following films about educators teaching the importance of healthy food and students working to create access to gardens for those who don't have access to land to garden. Students learn about food justice and the need for healthy food to be equally accessible to all and are inspired to see what they can do in their own community. .
The following stories honor young heroes working to overcome the consequences of the climate change.
Discussion Questions:
1. Identify people and organizations who are working on transforming food systems to become more sustainable. Share their story with MY HERO using the Create Program.
2. What are some of the consequences of Climate Change?
3. What is being done to improve the status of climate change? What can you do?
Students watch the following three films and listen to the song by Mendy Kanu's students in Sierra Leone.
Inspire students to become partners in global change with the following discussion guide.
Mohamed Sidibay is a survivor of a horrific civil war in Sierra Leone, where he was forced to fight as a child soldier. Now he advocates for better access to education worldwide. (2:48 min)
Mendy Kanu started the Children's Foundation of Technology in Sierra Leone to bring education to children in poverty. Listen to his students' song. (4:32 minutes)
He Named Me Malala is a portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai. (2:31 minutes)
Discussion Questions
1. Both Mohamed Sidibay and Malala Yousafzai are advocates for children's equal rights to education. Who else is an advocate for children's rights to education? Share his or her story with MY HERO.
2. Mendy Kanu saw a need in his community and started the Children's Foundation of Technology in Sierra Leone for impoverished children. Do you know of other people bringing education to children in need? Share their story with MY HERO.
3. What can you do to ensure that all children have access to education? Research places in need, create an action plan and share your story with MY HERO.
Students watch the films below about two young filmmakers who use their craft to shine a light on issues that are important to them: climate change, identity, and racism.
Students consider the discussion questions.
Emerging filmmaker Gabrielle Gorman's poetic filmmaking confronts issues like identity, racism and self-love. Her goal is to make art for social change.
1. What issues are important to you? What can you do? Create an action plan and share your story with MY HERO.
2. How can you express an issue that is important to you through film or song? Share your project with MY HERO.
MY HERO Suggested Video
"Isra Hirsi" (2019) by Brower Youth Awards
Isra Hirsi is a 16-year-old from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the US Youth Climate Strike, which focuses on fighting the climate crisis through climate strikes and climate policy.
MY HERO Suggested Video
"Athletic, Concerned College Students Deliver 626,000+ lbs of Produce to Food Banks in Need" (2020) by The Farm Link Project
Get involved at FarmLink.org
Learning Outcomes
Students will understand how they are not limited by age to make a positive difference.
Students will develop research and critical thinking skills as they evaluate children's access to education.
Students are encouraged to use multimedia to celebrate a personal hero.
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The International Youth Day lesson plan was created by MY HERO Education Outreach Director Laura Nietzer. |
Teachers: Visit MY HERO for additional multimedia curated resources for International Youth Day.
International Youth Day
Official UN Website
Learn about a New Hero Every Day of the Year: Use the MY HERO Calendar in the Classroom
Students can share their Hero Essays, Films and Art through our Create Program
Organizer created on 7/8/2019 7:08:10 AM by Laura Nietzer
Last edited 8/11/2021 2:15:29 PM by Laura Nietzer