What is a crime?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify how I know what is right and wrong, explain what a crime is and describe the difference between criminal and civil law.
Key learning points
- Our views of what is right and wrong come from a range of influences in our lives and can evolve as we get older.
- When someone breaks the law, this is known as a crime. We become criminally responsible at the age of ten in England.
- There are two main types of law in England: civil and criminal.
Keywords
Law - rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
Crime - an illegal act that is punishable by law
Civil law - a type of law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups
Criminal law - a type of law that deals with individuals who break the law and seeks to punish them for offences; these offences occur when someone breaks laws that Parliament has established for everyone to follow
Common misconception
Crimes can only be committed by adults.
Anyone can commit a crime. In England, once you reach the age of ten, you can be held criminally responsible for your actions. This means that if a person aged ten or older breaks the law, they can face legal consequences.
Teacher tip
To engage your pupils, start the lesson with a simple, relatable scenario such as asking them what they would do if they saw someone cheat on a test. This will help them explore the concept of right and wrong in a real-world context.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a crime?
Q2.Which of the following is an example of a crime?
Q3.Who is responsible for enforcing the law in England?
Q4.Which of the following definitions best describes the law?
Q5.Which of these actions is illegal?
Q6.Match the crime to its description
taking someone else’s property without permission
damaging or destroying property on purpose
deceiving others for personal gain, such as lying on forms or stealing
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What can influence our sense of right and wrong?
Q2.Which of the following definitions best describes what crime is?
Q3.Which of the following are true?
Q4.At what age can a person in England be held criminally responsible for their actions?
Q5.Match the word to its definition
deals with individuals who break the law set by Parliament
deals with disputes between individuals or groups
Q6.Which of the following examples would be dealt with by criminal law?
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: What is a crime?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 citizenship lesson on: What is a crime?, 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 What is crime? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.