New
New
Year 10

What is an active citizenship project and what skills do I need?

I can explain what active citizenship is, and describe what skills are needed to carry out an active citizenship project.

New
New
Year 10

What is an active citizenship project and what skills do I need?

I can explain what active citizenship is, and describe what skills are needed to carry out an active citizenship project.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An active citizenship project should connect to broader Citizenship concepts like democracy, law, rights and equality.
  2. There are three stages in the active citizenship project cycle: planning, taking action and measuring impact.
  3. Active citizens need a number of skills to carry out a successful active citizenship project.
  4. Case studies are crucial for active citizenship as they give us a real-world, complete view of an issue.

Keywords

  • Active citizenship - the process of learning how to take part in democracy and use Citizenship knowledge, skills and understanding to work together and 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

  • Skills - abilities or expertise gained through practice or experience to perform tasks effectively

  • Case study - a detailed examination or investigation of a person, group or event over a period of time

Common misconception

Active citizens are always high-profile people.

Anyone can be an active citizen. Active citizenship projects can be at a local, national or international level; the key purpose is to make a positive difference in society.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is an active citizenship project and what skills do I need?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When researching case studies, guide pupils to focus on both the facts and the broader impact of the issue. Encourage them to explore multiple perspectives and link the case study to Citizenship concepts for a deeper understanding.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:democracy,a system of government where we vote in elections for representatives

a system of government where we vote in elections for representatives

Correct Answer:society,people living together in an ordered community

people living together in an ordered community

Correct Answer:campaign,actions/events organised by an individual/group to achieve an aim

actions/events organised by an individual/group to achieve an aim

Q2.
Which answer best describes an 'active citizen'?
someone who follows the law
Correct answer: someone who makes a positive difference in society
someone who does not litter
someone who follows the Highway Code
Q3.
Which method of citizen action in a democracy is being described? 'When an individual or a group tries to persuade someone in Parliament to support a particular policy or campaign.'
Correct Answer: lobbying, lobby
Q4.
Which of the following best describes 'effective change'?
It focuses on quick solutions with immediate results.
Correct answer: It addresses root causes, is well-planned and has a lasting impact.
It involves making changes without long-term planning.
It only addresses symptoms of problems rather than the causes.
Q5.
What method of action is being described? 'Refusing to buy a product or use a service as a protest.'
Correct Answer: boycotting, boycott
Q6.
What does NGO stand for?
Non Government Office
Correct answer: Non Governmental Organisation
National Grant Organisation
New Governmental Order

6 Questions

Q1.
What is this describing? 'The process of learning how to take part in democracy and use Citizenship knowledge, skills and understanding to work together and make a positive difference in the world.'
Correct Answer: active citizenship, contribution
Q2.
Which of the following best describes active citizenship projects? Active citizenship projects are ...
only focused on local issues & do not involve international or national issues
Correct answer: about making a positive difference in society, regardless of the scale
only focused on large-scale movements and not individual actions
Q3.
Which are examples of historic active citizens?
Greta Thunberg
Correct answer: Emmeline Pankhurst
Sir Alan Bates
Correct answer: Martin Luther King Jr.
Q4.
Match the active citizen to their cause.
Correct Answer:Sir Alan Bates,national Post Office scandal activist

national Post Office scandal activist

Correct Answer:Greta Thunberg,international climate activist

international climate activist

Correct Answer:Mari Copeny,local water rights activist

local water rights activist

Q5.
Put the stages of the active citizenship project cycle into the correct order.
1 - plan
2 - take action
3 - measure impact
Q6.
When should a goal be decided in an active citizenship project?
before measuring impact
before taking action
Correct answer: before making a plan
before choosing an issue