How can citizens get involved in community change?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how citizens can get involved in community change.
Key learning points
- Changemakers work at local, national and global levels to solve problems and create positive change in communities.
- Examples of changemakers include volunteers, community leaders, campaigners, politicians, scientists and charities.
- Citizens can participate in decision-making by voting, joining councils or engaging in activities like protests.
- Young people can drive change by volunteering, raising awareness, organising events and using social media effectively.
- Active citizenship helps people to become changemakers and influence decisions in their communities.
Keywords
Citizen - a person who legally belongs to a country and has the rights and protection of that country
Change - an act or process through which something becomes different
Changemaker - someone who wants change in the world and, by gathering knowledge and resources, makes that change happen
Common misconception
Young people cannot change anything in their communities, only adults can.
Young people, as well as adults, can make lasting change in their communities. Young people have many powerful tools, like social media, to campaign for change.
Teacher tip
It would be useful to find out the name of leaders in your community, e.g., your local councillor and your MP, to make the lesson more relevant to your pupils.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.NGOs improve people's lives and reduce suffering. This is called ...
Q2.Which are the main types of community organisations?
Q3.Charities help humans, animals and what else?
Q4.NGOs work towards change and people.
Q5.Match the community organisation with its example.
ShelterBox
RSPCA
Neighbourhood Watch
Q6.What do volunteers work for?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are citizens who work at local, national or global levels to solve problems and create positive change in communities called?
Q2.Which of these people do not spark change in communities?
Q3.Which one of these definitions describes a 'petition'?
Q4.Instead of looking at pictures and watching videos on it, young people can use effectively to inspire change.
Q5.What helps people to become changemakers and influence decisions in their communities?
Q6.Match the word with its correct definition.
the activity of choosing someone or something in an election
the activity of giving your time up for free to help
the activity of organising an event to achieve an aim
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: How can citizens get involved in community change?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: How can citizens get involved in community change?, 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 we make a difference in our communities? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.