This manual contains nine teaching units on education for democratic citizenship (EDC) and human rights education (HRE). The units, consisting of four lessons each, are intended for students aged 10 or 11. Each unit focuses on a key concept related to EDC or HRE: identity – pluralism – equality – conflict – rules and law – government – responsibility – freedom – communication. A sequence of suggested teaching steps is described in detail for each lesson, as far as is reasonably possible.
The nine units presented in this manual cannot be grouped together to form a subject called “democracy education”, “civic education” or whatever else one chooses to call it. The separate units can, however, be used in lessons on languages, geography, history, social studies, ethics and the arts, etc. In agreement with various experts from the member states of the Council of Europe, the authors have developed teaching sequences with a focus on additional elements of EDC/HRE, which can easily be integrated into the existing primary curriculum. Particularly in primary school, where teachers have to cover a variety of subjects, experience shows that introducing another subject will be counter-productive and will create additional pressure on teachers. The themes of EDC/HRE are not themes to be studied in isolation, but with focus on different perspectives of known topics that are normally taught in primary school.
To cite this resource: Gollob, R., Krapf, P. and Weindinger, W. (Eds.) (2010). Growing up in Democracy - EDC/HRE Volume II - Lesson plans for primary level on democratic citizenship and human rights (EDC/HRE). Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
