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A Peaceful World: Eleanor Roosevelt, the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Diligence

45 min

Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.

  • What challenges are you facing?
  • What fears or concerns might you have?
  • What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?

Observation Questions

  • Who was Eleanor Roosevelt? Why was she chosen to be the United States’ delegate to the U.N. Human Rights Commission? What was her role at the U.N.?
  • What was Eleanor’s purpose as the chair and member of the Commission?

Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.

  • What is the historical context of the narrative?
  • What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
  • How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
  • How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
  • How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
  • What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
  • Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
  • How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
  • Students will examine Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in developing the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.
  • Students will apply their understanding of diligence to their own lives.
  • Students will determine ways that they can use diligence to advance freedom.

Student Handouts