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Cecile Richards, Former President: Planned Parenthood

Championing Choice (Season One)

Overview

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Cecile Richards Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"Moral leadership is taking the gifts that you were given and doing something with them to make the world better." - Cecile Richards, The Thread

Cecile Richards reflects on her upbringing in a politically active family in Texas. She discusses her journey into activism, her experience in labor organizing, and her time as the head of Planned Parenthood. Richards emphasizes the importance of simplifying communication to connect with people and the need for women’s leadership in politics.

 

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Lesson Objectives

Social Studies

*Gain insight on balancing a high-profile career with motherhood

*Connect one life story to larger political and social issues in America – women’s health care and reproductive choice

*Understand the role of labor and other grassroots organizing in our democracy

*Analyze the role of women’s health within the Affordable Care Act

*Explore the role of gender in elected office

English Language Arts

*Apply Cecile Richards’ life story as a memoir on activism

*Examine perspective taking from the point of view of one civic leader and activist

*Explore the idea of purposeful work and a meaningful life

*Use Cecile Richards’ episode as evidence to write a rhetorical argument, commentary, or synthesis essay

Social Emotional Learning: By offering engaging personal narratives, students can discuss and strengthen the five SEL competencies - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Media Literacy: Students will practice media literacy skills by analyzing information, points of view, and claims made in The Thread and be able to translate these strategies with all forms of media to make more informed decisions.

Cecile Richards Lesson | Teaching The Thread

First Take >

The "First Take" activity is a warm-up writing or conversation exercise created uniquely for The Thread to strengthen media literacy skills. Like an opening song in a musical, the first stanza of a poem, or even the first impression one person makes on another, the "First Take" asks students to reflect and share their initial thoughts and feelings about the episode’s opening and why the filmmaker and editor made these choicess.

Download Cecile Richards lesson to access the complete "First Take" activity.

 

Cecile Richards Lesson | Teaching The Thread

The Thread Up Close >

After watching the interview, students will debrief and discuss the life story and engage in a close read and analysis of her interview using the "Championing Choice" episode and transcript.

In this lesson, students will explore what it means to communicate across political differences and work as a grassroots organizer.

Download lesson to access "The Thread Up Close" activity.

Cecile Richards Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"Championing Choice" >

In this lesson students will explore the title of this lesson and discuss Cecile Richards perspective on women's rights and their fight for equality.

Download the lesson to access the complete "Championing Choice" activity.

Resources

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