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Explore democracy and human rights in this PSHE/citizenship lesson. Includes video clip, debates, worksheets, and a creative poster activity.

This thought-provoking lesson explores the importance of human rights and the role of democracy in protecting them. It’s ideal for KS3 or KS4 (Years 9–11) and supports the PSHE Association’s personal development framework and the citizenship curriculum.

This is Lesson 4 of a 7-lesson unit exploring UK democracy, human rights, and global citizenship — but it also works perfectly as a standalone lesson.

Lesson Focus:

What are human rights and why do they matter?
How does democracy help protect our rights?
What happens when rights are not respected?
What’s Included:

Do Now starter task linking government types to rights
Linked video clip explaining human rights and the Human Rights Act
Guided worksheet tasks with structured questions and answers
Debate activity using controversial statements (e.g., death penalty, conscription)
Creative poster task: students choose a human right and design a visual representation
Discussion prompts on democracy’s role in protecting rights
SEND support guidance and printable resources
Learning Objectives:

Must: Identify key human rights and their purpose
Should: Explain how democracy protects those rights
Could: Evaluate what might happen without democratic protections
This lesson encourages critical thinking, student voice, and creative expression, making it ideal for PSHE, Citizenship, or Personal Development sessions.