Resources for Teaching about Comparison of Rights
The reference staff at the Washington State Law Library has put together a list of constitution and rights comparison resources, including research links, lesson plans, and media. The sources can be used on their own or to supplement the Judges in the Classroom Classifying Rights From Various Constitutions lesson plan. The State Law Library provides legal research assistance by phone and email Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Teachers and students can reach out to them with their research needs at 360–357–2136 or library.requests@courts.wa.gov.
Glossary of Terms
Sources cited in the Classifying Rights From Various Constitutions lesson plan
Constitution Act, 1982 — Canada
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Constitution of the People’s Republic of China
Mexico’s Constitution of 1917 with Amendments through 2015
The Constitution of the United States
Bill of Rights — United States
Articles and Reports
What Are Individual Rights? Definition and Examples — Thought Co
The Bill of Rights: What Does it Say? — U.S. National Archives
Constitutional History Resources — ConstitutionNet
· Canada
2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices — U.S. Department of State
· Canada
· China
· Mexico
Tracking Democracy and Freedom Around the World — Freedom House
· Canada
· China
· Mexico
Media
What is a Constitution? — Video — International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
Liam Learns…7 Principles of the Constitution — Individual Rights — Video — Texas Law Related Education
Constitutions Made Simple — Videos — ConstitutionNet
WORLD Policy Analysis Center — Interactive website — UCLA
Explore Rights Around the World — Interactive website — National Constitution Center
Article 3 of the Philippine Constitution: Bill of Rights — Video — Civil Service Review TV (Philippines)
The Evolution of the Philippine Constitution: A look back into the History of our Constitution — Video — Civil Service Review TV (Philippines)
Teaching the Bill of Rights — Video — National History Education Clearinghouse (for middle school teachers)
Lesson Plans
A World At Peace — PBS (Grades 2–6)
Explaining Human Rights to Kids on International Human Rights Day — KidsKonnect (Ages 5–11)
Life, Liberty and Property: What’s the Big Idea? — Teaching History (Grades 3–6)
What World Do You Want in 2030? — World’s Largest Lesson (Grades 3–8)
Teaching for Children’s Rights — Rights, Wants & Needs — UNICEF Canada (Elementary, Middle)
Human Rights Lesson Plans For Southeast Asian Schools — Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center (Primary, Secondary)
Bringing the World’s Constitutions to the Classroom — Comparative Constitutions Project (CCP) and the American Bar Association (Grades 5–12)
Going Global — Investigating Global Issues of Interest and Importance — Human Rights Educators USA (Grades 7–8)
Human Rights & Justice: An Ancient & Modern Case Study — Human Rights Educators USA (Grades 6–8)
Lesson 3: The Matter of the Philippines — EDSITEment! (Grades 6–12)
Protection of Individual Rights in the Modern World — Philadelphia Bar Association (Grades 9–12)
Comparing the United States Bill of Rights and the United Nations — Harry Truman Library (Grades 9–12)
Constitutional Convention — Lesson Plan — Annenberg (Grades 9–12)
Human Rights and Civil Rights — PBS (Grades 9–12) NOTE: the video in the lesson can be streamed on Kanopy
One Nation: Two Futures? (China) — PBS (Grades 9–12)
Are Human Rights Universal? — Human Rights Educators USA (Grades 10–12)
Comparing Chinese and American Law — 1990 Institute (Grades 11–12)
Fundamental Freedoms of the Canadian Constitution — Ten video lectures with quizzes (free registration required) — Canadian Constitution Foundation (adult education level)
