How can we be active citizens?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what active citizenship is and what skills are needed to bring about positive change.
Key learning points
- An active citizen is someone who takes an active role in their community and society to bring about positive change.
- Citizens can bring about positive change using different methods, e.g. petitioning, protesting, boycotting and lobbying.
- To make a positive difference, active citizens need skills such as communication, teamwork and critical thinking.
Keywords
Community - a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
Active citizenship - the process of learning how to take part in democracy and using citizenship knowledge, skills and understanding to try to make a positive difference in the world
Active citizen - a person who actively takes responsibility, becomes involved in areas of public concern and tries to make a positive difference in their community
Common misconception
Only leaders, or those in power, can be active citizens.
Whilst leadership skills might help in some situations, many active citizens work behind the scenes, you don’t need to be a leader or in power to be an active citizen.
Teacher tip
Make active citizenship more relatable by engaging with local issues and real-life examples. If pupils are already familiar with Rosa Parks, consider using the example of Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old who also refused to move for a white passenger in 1955.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the name of the subject that allows you to study different aspects of society and equips you with the skills and understanding needed to play a full part in society?
Q2.When looking at the economy in citizenship, which of the following would you study?
Q3.True or false? When exploring the concept of democracy in citizenship you will learn about voting, local councillors, general elections and MPs.
Q4.Match the word to the correct definition.
Q5.Citizenship will help you develop which of the following skills?
Q6.Social change is a change that happens quickly.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which description describes an active citizen?
Q2.True or false? Jamie Oliver’s campaigns are linked to climate change.
Q3.Which of the following are examples of Bayard Rustin being an active citizen?
Q4.True or false? Marcus Rashford is a footballer who campaigns to end food poverty.
Q5.Match the campaign to the active citizen.
Q6.Which of the following skills support you to be an active citizen?
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: How can we be active citizens?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: How can we be active citizens?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the Citizenship - what's it all about? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.