Celebration Ideas – Educators

Devote a classroom discussion to current free speech issues in the U.S. or internationally.

Implement a lesson plan on freedoms of speech and/or of the press. There are many online; we have compiled a few here.

Ask students to write a short essay on what free speech means to them or what types of speech they feel should be protected – or not.

Ask students to write a letter to the editor of their local paper.

Schedule a speaker for your classroom, school or journalism club to discuss press freedom and/or freedom of speech via in-person or virtually.

College faculty, check your school’s speech code rating at www.fire.org/spotlight.

Support your school’s newspaper or literary journal. If you don’t’ have one, encourage interested students to start one.

Conduct a mock debate on free speech issues or issue of your choice.

Create a banned book display or exhibit in the school library.

Encourage students to express their understanding of freedom of speech in artwork, poetry, song lyrics or photography.

Hold an open-mic night or poetry reading of original student work.

For further inspiration, visit Past Select Activities on our website.