Classroom ideas – Secondary Citizenship
Here are 4 Citizenship lesson plans covering different elements of the curriculum for students aged 11-14. We hope that these will stimulate ideas that you can adapt, expand and apply to other curriculum topics. The full lesson plans are available to download in both pdf and word formats. See the descriptions below for a summary of what is covered for each topic.
Global issues (Download lesson plan)
Students use Google Search to find out about refugees using websites from different organisations, charities and governments. They research definitions of what a refugee is and learn about what happens to asylum seekers when they come to the UK. They each investigate the work of an organisation that works with refugees and then have a group discussion about all the different organisations the students have found. What do they have in common? Are they all charities? Do they share common aims? Students can also research and summarise the story of one refugee and plot their journey on Google Maps.
The second lesson focuses on the issues for refugees from a particular country, and the impact this has on the lives of individuals. It gives students an opportunity to research a conflict in the world today, such as in Sudan. They can use the USHMM: Crisis in Darfur Global Awareness layer in Google Earth to read eyewitness testimonies, find out about relief work going on in that area and learn how they can help
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Fairtrade (Download lesson plan)
Students learn what is meant by Fairtrade. They identify various Fairtrade products and consider the advantages of operating within a Fairtrade partnership. They design a presentation which informs the consumer about Fairtrade. They can use Google Search and Images to find information from difference sources and the presentations can be shared and collaborated online using Google Docs.
The second lesson looks at global interdependence. Students research the origins of Fairtrade products and plot them on a map of the world using a Google My Map. They go on to consider, not only the distance which these products travel, but also the impact of trading on their own lives and the lives of the growers and producers.
They could also find information using the Fair Trade Certified Global Awareness layer in Google Earth. There they will be able to read information about many different Fairtrade cooperatives; from cocoa farmers in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, to coffee farmers in South America and tea farmers in India.
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Identity, race and membership (Download lesson plan)
This lesson plan gives guidance on using Google to research information on identity, race and membership, understanding the diversity of national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding.
The first activity involves mapping the geographical and cultural origins of members of the class. The students find out where their grandparents were born, and plot the country or area of the UK on a Google My Map.
The class can then identify the range of countries represented, and go on in activity two to consider the reasons why people move from their country of origin and the social and economic effects of this mobility. They create a presentation on a country from which their ancestors, or a famous person that they are interested in, originated. They can use Google Earth and Google Images to add information and images to their presentations and should cover topics such as which continent it is in, climate, standard of living, religion, current government and human rights.
The final activity asks students to research why people would move to the UK from abroad, what they think it might be like coming to Britain and what affect it has on the UK.
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The EU (Download lesson plan)
Students learn about the history, meaning and importance of the EU, and carry out activities which allow them to question the pros and cons of the EU as an institution.
Using Google Search, students find out when and why the EU was formed. They create a timeline and use Google Earth or Maps to plot the EU's increase in size. They then research how living in the EU affects the lives of individuals in terms of factors such as travel, education, environment and economy.
Students are introduced to the idea that there are different opinions about the EU. They try to find facts that support statements such as "the EU has made it easier for individuals to work, live and travel in any member state" and "the EU is good for consumers". They then discuss whether they found evidence that doesn't support these statements and whether their research has convinced them that the EU is a good or bad thing.
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