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How to engage

Be an Upstander

Find out how you can use the Be an Upstander program and resource to empower your students to recognize injustice and use their strengths to create change.

Six students in a museum gallery are standing behind tables on which are placed posters of their presentations. Partially obscured.

Photo: Andrew Sikorsky

An upstander is a person who recognizes injustice, knows their personal strengths and uses those strengths to create change. Challenge your students to consider their own strengths and become upstanders for human rights!

The Be an Upstander resource is a free project‐based learning unit designed to encourage inquiry and action on human rights issues. Educators can access the teacher’s guide for lessons and work toward the annual Upstander Showcase, which empowers students to share their work and passion with the public and fellow upstanders. 

Resources

Teacher Guide

The Teacher Guide includes lessons that will engage students in a human rights inquiry project centered around taking action and sharing their knowledge on human rights injustices. This project is designed to conclude in an event where students can share their learning and action plans in a creative way with their peers and community members.

Teacher guide

Students

Students can access the interactive Be an Upstander website to learn about upstander stories and how they can use their own personal strengths to create change.

Student resource
On a sunny day, four students stand on either side of two easels. The students wear matching red shirts that say “Be an Upstander” and the signs on the easels say “Dear Ukraine” and “Help Missing Children in Ukraine.”
An older and a younger student sitting beside each other on a bench. The older student is reading a book to the younger student.

Showcase

The Be an Upstander Showcase is an annual event where students share their projects about human rights and present their work to the public. There are currently showcases planned in Manitoba and Alberta.

School Programs

At the CMHR, we offer free virtual and onsite Be an Upstander school programs.

The Be an Upstander program provides students with the ability to explore the Museum with a tour guide. On this tour, students will learn about the traits of an upstander, that upstanders recognize injustice, know their strengths, gifts and abilities, and how upstanders use their strengths to create change. Students will see how they can also be upstanders for human rights.

Book a school program
Students walking through Museum galleries. On the left wall is an image of a crowd of people. The walls are made of cement. Partially obscured.

Photo: CMHR, Annie Kierans

Workshops

Are you a teacher wanting to learn more about the Be an Upstander program? Consider registering for our teacher workshop to learn how to bring this resource into your classroom. Browse upcoming workshops below.

Be an Upstander Workshop

Date: Monday, February 10th, 2025
Location: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Time: 9:00am‑3:00pm
Cost: Free, registration required

This workshop for educators will guide you through the process of bringing this program into your classroom and preparing your students to participate in the annual Upstander Showcase at the Museum. The workshop will be led in English, however all resources are available in French. Translation of the workshop may be available upon request.

Register
Many people gathered in an open indoor space with tables and posters set up on them. Partially obscured.

Photo: CMHR

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