Lesson Plans

In this video, the TNF City Council makes a rule about dress code for all the city councilors.

• Students will explore the concept of freedom of religion and belief.
• Students will gain an understanding of religious accommodation: that sometimes we must treat certain people differently in order to be fair.
• Students will apply the Acorn test to determine whether or not a rule that limits religious freedom is fair.

In this video, Mayor Moe searches everyone in City hall when his Chain of Office goes missing.

• Students will learn what it means to have a right to privacy.
• Students will learn that having privacy is important because people have a right to dignity and respect and invading someone’s privacy can cause harm.
• Students will discuss when it might be fair for authorities to invade someone’s privacy.

In this video, City Council passes a by-law in response to a problem that Mayor Moe has identified.

• Students will explore the fairness of laws and rules that limit fundamental rights and freedoms.
• Students will question a law’s purpose, effectiveness, and side-effects

In this video, the TNF City Council makes a Be Nice Law to prevent anyone from saying nasty or unpleasant things.

• Students will learn that Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press are guaranteed in democracies
• Students will identify when it might be fair or unfair to limit freedom of expression
• Students will learn about city council and participate in a mock city council debate and vote.
• Students will practice considering multiple points-of-view.

In this video, City Council bans protests in the city when a controversial leader comes for a visit.

• Students will explore their right to gather for a peaceful purpose.
• Students will use The Acorn Test to examine limits to freedom of peaceful assembly
• Students will think critically about ways in which rights can conflict with one another in democracies.

In this video, the council passes a by-law making it illegal for employers to discriminate when hiring staff.

• Students will learn the importance of equality rights and freedom from discrimination.
• Students will explore equality rights in the context of school groups and hiring practices.
• Students will learn to evaluate good and bad reasons for distinguishing between people.
• Students will use the Acorn Test to assess reasonableness/fairness.