A List of Anti-Trafficking Curriculum for Educators
Educators have the unique opportunity to teach their students about human trafficking while also being positioned to detect trafficking when it occurs. Because human trafficking is such a complex and distressing issue, though, some teachers may feel at a loss when wondering how to explain it to children. Human trafficking can be an intimidating issue to discuss, but because children need to learn to recognize the signs in order to keep themselves safe, it’s incredibly important that we educate them at every age. No matter the students’ ages, there are plenty of resources and curriculum available to teachers to make the learning process easier.
Pre-School and Elementary School Resources
Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships developed an interactive creative arts program called “ARTREACH.” This program uses art and interactive simulations to teach students between the ages of 8 and 18 “about the warning signs and tactics that traffickers in the United States will use to lure their victims.” The goal of this program is to “spread awareness and give children the tools they need to describe their understanding of the dangers of trafficking.”
While many programs don’t offer curriculum for students younger than 8, Prevention Organized To Educate Children on Trafficking (PROTECT) believes that an “educated student is a protected student.” The program has resources for all grade levels, beginning with grades K-5. Their curriculum comes with “lesson plans, teacher training videos, PowerPoints, teaching narratives, classroom activities, and letters to notify parents that PROTECT will be taught to students during the school year.” Educators can request a quote for the program through PROTECT’s website.
For children ages 2-6, Baylor University suggests teaching children to care for their bodies and insist on their right to personal space. These lessons will help children to recognize their bodies as valuable and will help them to understand if they are being exploited. For children ages 7-12, Baylor points out that students will have begun to notice “notions of work” as well as military members which provides teachers with the opportunity to explain forced labor and the practice of child soldiering.
Middle School Resources
Love146’s “Not a #Number Program” is ideal for students ages 12-18. Through information, critical thinking, and skill development, students will learn how to recognize and protect themselves from human trafficking and exploitation. Additionally, the program will help children to identify support systems and learn how to navigate exploitative situations. The program offers licensing and certification for professionals as well as more general resources for caregivers.
I am Jasmine Strong uses a variety of techniques to reach children who are experiencing exploitation and abuse. Their website features several gender-inclusive videos that will walk students through different human trafficking and exploitative situations and explain them in simple terms. The website also offers a “Message Jasmine” feature that allows students to anonymously confide in Jasmine or ask her questions. The Terminology & Your Rights section will assist teachers in explaining sex trafficking and exploitation and what rights students have in those situations.
The Prevention Project is an award-winning education program aimed at middle and high school students. Developed by human trafficking survivors, educators, advocates, and law enforcement, the Prevention Project’s middle school program includes two lessons that are 45-50 minutes long. The program provides lesson plans that include learning objectives, videos, activities, homework assignments, and more. Teachers looking to obtain the Prevention Project curriculum can do so through their website.
High School Resources
The Prince William County Public School system’s human trafficking prevention program was developed for teenagers and involves a 90-minute interactive lesson that teaches students how to identify themselves or friends as “possible victims of human trafficking.” The school system also developed an app that allows students to quickly communicate with people they trust if they find themselves in danger. On their website, you’ll find the videos for the lesson as well as more information about the app.
“Every single student deserves to live in safety knowing their bodies are not commodities. Every student deserves to be free. ”
A21 offers an innovative and interactive program called “Bodies Are Not Commodities” that is “designed to connect students to the reality of human trafficking so they can be a part of the solution.” A21 provides access to five multimedia and interactive sessions paced at 5, 10, or 15 class periods of approximately 45 minutes. They also have a facilitator guide, student guide, and video downloads available on their website.
For Junior High and High School Students, ProjectSTARFISH offers an extensive curriculum on human trafficking, complete with lesson plans. Teachers can complete a certification course and download lesson plans that span a variety of classes including English, History, Social Justice, Economics, Theater, and more. The lesson plans come with syllabi and course objectives to help keep both students and teachers on track.
Quick links:
Pre-School and Elementary School Resources
Middle School Resources
High School Resources
About the Author
Victoria Shircliffe is a superfan of the television show "Once Upon a Time," and when she’s not working at the public library, she’s travelling across the country to fan conventions! She recently graduated from Bellarmine University with a degree in English and Marketing Communication and hopes to pursue a Masters in English. She is passionate about feminism, fairy tales, and fighting human trafficking.