How do groups create change in society?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how groups, including pressure groups, drive social change and the effective methods they use.
Key learning points
- Pressure groups, protest groups and social movements can create change by influencing decisions in society.
- Pressure groups focus on specific issues, using methods like lobbying and protest groups protest for change.
- Social movements unite large numbers of people to fight for broad social, political or cultural change.
- Successful groups use various methods like petitions, media appearances, advertising campaigns and marches.
- Greenpeace and the RSPCA show how pressure groups can protect the environment and animals and can create lasting change.
Keywords
Society - people living together in an ordered community
Pressure groups - groups that put pressure on the Government, or those in power, to do something or change something; they do not wish to have power themselves, they simply wish to achieve a goal
Common misconception
Pressure groups are usually violent.
Pressure groups can lobby MPs and protest for change but usually in a peaceful way. There is a wide range of different pressure groups in the UK using peaceful methods to perform effective action and bring lasting change.
Teacher tip
You could research if there are any pressure groups in your area and include some local information in your lesson to make it more relevant to your class.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The UK is a representative ...
Q2.Article 21 of the protects the right for citizens to participate in politics.
Q3.What is the definition of lobbying?
Q4.Match the start of the sentence with its ending.
a clear campaign message.
help from people in power.
will help make a campaign action effective.
Q5.In 2024, the UK Government launched the ...
Q6.Which of the following is not crucial for effective action, but helps?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Pressure groups, protest groups and social movements can create lasting by influencing decisions in society.
Q2.Which of these groups try to influence government as their main campaign method?
Q3.Social movements unite large numbers of people to fight for broad social, or cultural change.
Q4.Match the type of group with its example.
Liberty
the People's Assembly
the Fair Trade movement
Q5.What methods do successful groups use?
Q6.Match the pressure group with its purpose.
protects the environment
protects animals
protects farmers
protects badgers
To help you plan your 8 citizenship lesson on: How do groups create change in society?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 citizenship lesson on: How do groups create change in society?, 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 How can citizens bring about change? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.