When Carlie Ennis’ class simulated different government types, one student in a “dictatorship” quickly noticed a divide — brown-eyed kids got free time, while blue-eyed kids had to clean.
“That’s not fair,” the fourth-grade girl declared. “That’s not right.”
“I hadn’t said, ‘One of you needs to stand up to me.’ She did that on her own,” recalls Ennis, Year 5 teacher and Social Impact/Global Campus Leader at British International School of Chicago-Lincoln Park. “She showed that she has a right to have a voice, a right to have an opinion, and a right to be heard.”
That lesson is at the heart of BISC-LP’s approach to social impact education.
At this private Chicago school for ages 15 months to 11 years, kids learn their rights and feel empowered to advocate for themselves — and others.
What children’s rights look like
Did you know children have guaranteed rights? “There are 46 rights,” Ennis shares. Since 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has outlined key protections.
“Every child needs to know the rights that they have — and be aware if those rights are taken away, they can speak up.” At BISC-LP, these lessons are taught in age-appropriate ways.
- Core rights for all grades: These include the right to a name and nationality, to be heard, to access health and water, and to receive an education.
- Younger students focus on basics: “They have the right to play, the right to rest.”
- Older students explore deeper topics: Lessons on U.S. conflicts help students examine rights like protection from war and support for refugee children.
- Practical applications in the classroom: “Even if somebody wants to hug you and you’re not comfortable with that, you have the right to say no.”
Giving kids the confidence to use their voices
From history lessons to everyday interactions, students learn that speaking up can create change. “What we’re trying to teach is that they may be young,” Ennis says, “but they can make a difference.”
- ‘Champions for Change’: This series teaches children about government systems and advocacy — including Malala Yousafzai, who, at age 11, spoke out against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education.
- Experiencing government systems: Students were assigned to different rooms to live under a “dictatorship,” “monarchy” or “democracy.” Teachers set rules — some unfair — to show how leadership shapes rights. “It gave them the experience of what it would be like,” Ennis says.
- Rethinking history: While studying Sacajawea, the Indigenous teen who guided Lewis and Clark, one student made a striking realization: “They stole her rights.” Ennis says, “It was powerful” as the class considered how history can amplify or erase voices.
- Speaking up, even to friends: When a student overheard a friend gossiping, she didn’t stay silent. “She told her, ‘I don’t think that’s fair. That’s unkind,’” Ennis shares. “We try to encourage kids to have those discussions, to say, ‘Actually, I don’t agree with you.’”
Extra focus on action during World Children’s Day
BISC-LP also takes part in World Children’s Day, a UNICEF event held annually on Nov. 20, celebrating and advocating for children’s rights.
- Student-led initiatives: “Last year, we set up a competition with the children to design rights for our school that are more inclusive for our community,” Ennis says. The project tied into school values like respect, communication and resilience.
- Letting kids be kids: Students participated in a “minute of loudness” instead of a moment of silence. “So many times, children are told to be quiet and keep their voices down,” Ennis says. “We just allowed them to be children and be wild.”
- A broader perspective: Kids also learn about global inequalities. “Other children don’t get the education they do,” says Ennis. “They appreciate how lucky they are. And they realize if they or anyone is deprived of those rights, they can say something.”
Through these lessons and experiences, BISC Lincoln Park helps students see themselves as active participants in shaping their world.
“Just because you’re 9 years old, that doesn’t mean that you can’t go out there and make a change and speak up for your rights,” Ennis says.
This content is sponsored by the British International School of Chicago-Lincoln Park in Chicago for ages 15 months to 11 years. To learn more, visit the BISC-LP website.
