Humanitarianism and the Red Cross

Explore humanitarianism with our free lesson plans and teaching materials, which are ideal for PSHE and Citizenship teachers.

Our free teaching resources help young people to consider humanitarian issues and encourage compassion, courage and the desire to help others.

Get primary and secondary teaching ideas about:

what it means to be human
what is a humanitarian act
why humanitarian aid is important
the work of the Red Cross in the UK and abroad.

Humanitarianism teaching resources

Tackling loneliness

Age: 7-18

Type:

Subjects: PSHE, Citizenship, Tutor time

Curriculum linked resources with activities for primary and secondary learners about loneliness and feeling lonely

The Snowman, Snowdog and a little boy flying through the air

The Snowman and The Snowdog kindness calendar

Age: 5-11

Type: Quick activity

Subjects: PSHE, Cross-curricular, SMSC

Children are encouraged to learn about and practise kindness this December with the The Snowman™ and The Snowdog in our new kindness calendar.

Celebrating Black History Month UK

Age: 11-18

Type: Quick activity

Subjects: Citizenship

Black History Month takes place every October in the UK. Use this activity with secondary school students to discover some exceptional Black British humanitarians.

A boy of around ten years old sits at a table drawing while his father sits next to him.

Talking with children and young people about race and racism

Age: 3-18

Type: Guidance and activities

Subjects: Citizenship

A free primary and secondary teaching resource about how to support and talk to children and young people about race, racism and anti-racism.

Graphic of two historic Red Cross posters half coloured in

Coronavirus kindness colouring activities

Age: 7-18

Type: Quick activities

Subjects: PSHE, History

Use colouring activities and posters from the archives to learn more about the British Red Cross and its history of kindness.

A close-up of a young woman's hands holding cut-out paper hearts in different colours and sizes.

Five activities of kindness and resilience

Age: 7-18

Type: Activities

Subjects: PSHE, Tutor time

A range of activities designed to develop resilience and encourage kindness including topics on routine building, coping mechanisms and acts of kindness.

Solidarity with Sri Lanka

Age: 11-16

Type: Lesson plan

Subjects: PSHE, Tutor time

This teaching resource explores attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday 2019, and provides a safe space to discuss similar attacks.