Ms. Rachel smiles softly while speaking on camera, with a bookshelf behind her. In this PBS NewsHour Classroom lesson, she advocates for the children of Gaza and calls for global leaders to listen to their voices.

August 18, 2025

Ms. Rachel on Advocating for Gaza’s Children: ‘I Wish Leaders Would Hear Their Voices’

What does it mean to use your voice for others? In this lesson, students explore advocacy, empathy, and the power of speaking up through the example of Ms. Rachel’s message for Gaza’s children.

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PBS News Hour Classroom
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Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

She’s the preschool teacher to millions, though most of her students have never set foot in her classroom. Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, is the creator of the wildly popular YouTube series "Songs for Littles," a lifeline for parents and a source of joy for toddlers. She sat down with Geoff Bennett to discuss how she's using her platform to call attention to the plight of children in Gaza.

View the transcript of the story.

Discussion Questions

  1. Who is Rachel Accurso, and what is she known for?
  2. Why did Ms. Rachel create "Songs for Littles?"
  3. What inspiration did Ms. Rachel take from Mister Rogers?
  4. How is Ms. Rachel raising awareness about what's going on in Gaza?
  5. When did Ms. Rachel decide to start speaking out about Gaza?

Focus Questions

  1. Do you think it is a good idea for Ms. Rachel to talk about Gaza on her personal social media platform? Why or why not? Do you think it was a good idea for Ms. Rachel to have Rahaf on her show? Why or why not?
  2. How do you think Ms. Rachel is making an impact by talking to her audience about Gaza?
  3. Media literacy: If you were a journalist covering this topic, who would you want to interview about this topic? A viewer of Ms. Rachel's show? A parent of a viewer?

Extension Activity

  • Read this article to learn more about what's going on in Gaza and discuss your thoughts with a partner.
  • You may want to watch the News Hour video, 7 quick questions with Ms. Rachel.
  • Deliberative Dialogues: Did you know there are people trained to help others have conversations about current issues? What do you think goes into their training? Would you be interested in helping others facilitate conversations on what some people perceive as difficult or sensitive topics? To learn more about one group working on "Deliberative Dialogues," see the Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University. You may also want to check out the National Issues Forum Institute to learn more and for a list of issues.

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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