Lesson 5

 | Human Rights as Workers Rights

74

Learning from Labour | 

Intermediate ETFO Resource

 | 

www.etfo.ca

For Next Steps Activity: Video :The Story of Human Rights from 
the Youth for Human Rights. http://www.youthforhumanrights.
org/what-are-human-rights.html

Materials

Computer, with projector (for viewing the Youtube video) and 
related websites

KWL chart

Handout of simplified version of United Nations Declaration of 
Human Rights.

Handout of the article entitled “Printers Demand a Nine Hour 
Day” by Jamie Bradburn from Toronto In Time website.

Learning Goal(s)

The Learning Goals are the Overall/Specific Expectations written in student friendly 
language for students to access (post onto chart paper and review with students)

I understand that there are certain fundamental rights that all human beings enjoy.

I understand the important relationship between human rights and workers’ rights.

I am aware of how the events and outcomes of the Printers Strike of 1872 helped to improve the working conditions of both past and 
present day workers.

Implementation

Task Component

Instruction

Assessment Focus 
Look Fors

Notes for Teachers*

Before

(Activation/Review)

10 minutes

Write or display the following 
questions on the board:

• What are some of the rights 

that we have as humans?

• What are some of the rights 

that we have as workers?

Have students complete the “K” 
and portions of their KWL chart 
to record what they already know 
about human rights and workers’ 
rights.

Once students have had a chance 
to record their thoughts into the 
first column (“K”) if time permits, 
they can be invited to share and 
orally discuss what they have 
written.

Assessment for Learning

Most students should be able to 
demonstrate and articulate some 
basic ideas about human rights, 
however, some students may 
require some prompting. 

For example, you may prompt 
students by asking a question 
about human rights such as:

• “Does a person have the 

legal right to deny you an 
apartment because of your 
race, sexual orientation, 
gender or nationality?”

The teacher should take an oral 
scan of the room to ensure that 
students are synthesizing their 
prior knowledge with their new 
knowledge by completing the “K” 
section of the KWL chart.