For Educators

ITVS Community Classroom lesson plans pair educational film modules drawn from ITVS’s acclaimed documentary films with standards-based lesson plans, activities, and other interactive content.

Lesson Plans

Viewing Topic: Economics & DevelopmentView All

	Democracy Around the World This lesson takes a global look at the range of democratic governments in different countries, from new and transitional democratic systems to more established ones. (includes 1 film module) From the Vote Democracy! Classroom collection From the film Iron Ladies of Liberia
	From Roots to Branches: The Interconnectedness of Environment, Culture and Social Justice In this lesson, students will examine how Kenya’s history as a colonized nation has contributed to their challenges with deforestation. Students will first identify how this environmental degradation is related to other social, political and economic problems that affect the country’s marginalized citizens and then research and interview local environmental champions. (includes 2 film modules) From the Women's Empowerment Classroom collection From the film Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai
	Global Climate Change and the Ethics of Industry This lesson examines the factors behind global climate change, its detrimental ecological and cultural effects, and the means by which it can be mitigated, on both local and international levels. From the The Island President Classroom collection From the film The Island President
	People Power From Within the System Students will investigate the dilemma of whether community organizers should work within the system or outside of the system to bring about social change. As a culminating assignment, students will take sides and debate the issue with their classmates. (includes 1 film module) From the Women's Empowerment Classroom collection From the film Waiting for the Revolution
	The Green Belt Movement: Evaluating Citizen Action and Environmental Change Strategies In this lesson, students examine the community organizing/civic action steps that the Green Belt Movement took to address Kenya’s deforestation and investigate the strategies that other “change makers” and organizations use to address specific issues—leading them to research two activist organizations of their choice. (includes 2 film modules) From the Women's Empowerment Classroom collection From the film Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai
	The Right to Work In this lesson, students investigate the concepts of unemployment, unions and worker’s rights as universal human rights. After listening to various voices involved in an indigenous workers’ struggle in Bolivia, students research an organization and create campaign media for it. (includes 1 film module) From the Women's Empowerment Classroom collection From the film Waiting for the Revolution
	Universal Human Rights and the Ethics of Government This lesson explores the basic premise of human rights, the history of human rights abuse — both legislative and executive/military — and its consequences, human rights in the contemporary media, and the application of human rights issues to modern American life. From the The Island President Classroom collection From the film The Island President
	Women and Democracy In this lesson, students will discuss and research the impact of prominent women who have led, challenged and shaped both the ideas and practices of democracies around the world. (includes 1 film module) From the Vote Democracy! Classroom collection From the film Iron Ladies of Liberia