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Citizenship KS3
a suggested lesson plan
Having your say
Lesson objective
Learn how people can have their say in getting things changed in their community
| Introduction (ten minutes) | Whole class question and answer Who sets the rules in our community? Show on whiteboard as the answers come.  At school? Headteacher and/or Board of Governors Where we live? Local council In the country? National government In Europe? The EUDo you think you can do anything to get these people to change the rules? Yes? Then how? No? Why not? I don’t think you should give up so soon.We live in a democracy. Can anyone tell us what that means? It means that we choose the people who make the laws. Not true of the head teacher and board of governors. They are appointed. (If it applies: When it comes to appointing senior staff at this school we do listen to what some senior students think. And some governors are appointed by Councillors who are elected.) |
| Main part of lesson (thirty minutes) |
These are the people/groups who make the laws. Today we are going to talk about how you as individuals can reach them and get your voice heard. |
| Who do you influence (5 minutes plus 5 minutes for feedback) |
Short group exercise Here are four things you might want done. Match each up with the group that will do it for you if you can persuade them. Change the voting age to 16 Get your household waste bins emptied every week Take only five subjects at GCSE Get airlines to pay a tax on air pollution |
| Reaching decision takers | In whole class or groups For this example take getting airlines to pay for pollution People to contact: show on whiteboard Local MP (who is/ how do you find out about him/her?) How will you contact (letter/ email/ invite to school/ meet in London). Think of advantages/ disadvantages of each methodWhat will the MP do? A local MEP (who is/how do you find out about him/her?) How will you contact (letter/ email/ invite to school/ meet in Brussels)Think of advantages/ disadvantages of each method What will the MEP do? References: More about the European Parliament Who else might you contact British Airways, Association of British Travel Agents? What will they say/ how will they help? Would you do anything else? Get friends/ the school to support Write a letter to the newspapers Get up a petition (one million signatures in more than one EU country will force EU to propose a new law) |
| Plenary close (5 minutes) |
Whole class Think of one strong point to make in a letter to the newspapers |
| Fact sheet | |
| Programme of Study Attainment Target |
Key concept 1.1a, 1.1d, Key process 2.1a, Range and content 3c, 3e levels 3-5 |