Working in politics – what can we do?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe different roles in politics and analyse what is needed to succeed and create change.
Key learning points
- Roles in politics range from elected officials to civil servants and advisers, all supporting government functions.
- Politics-related careers include MPs, civil servants, journalists, and NGO workers, each helping to create change.
- Key qualities like communication, empathy, and resilience are essential for creating change in politics.
- Practical experience and developing essential skills are crucial for making a lasting impact in politics.
Keywords
Career - an occupation pursued over a significant period of a person's life, offering opportunities for progression and development
Change - in this context, making improvements in society, policies, or government actions to address issues, solve problems, and create positive outcomes for communities and individuals
Common misconception
Working in politics is only about becoming an elected official, like an MP.
There are many other important roles, such as civil servants, journalists, and NGO workers, that also contribute to shaping policies and creating change.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to explore a variety of roles within politics beyond just elected positions. Highlight how different careers, such as civil servants or journalists, contribute to creating change and shaping society, helping them see the broader picture of political involvement.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following terms to their correct descriptions.
having a one-sided view of a person or group
a system where one person or a small group controls the country
a method used to decide which candidate wins an election
Q2.In a democracy, how are leaders chosen?
Q3.In the First Past The Post system, the candidate with the most in a constituency wins.
Q4.Which of these voting systems is used in the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly?
Q5.What is the main purpose of political parties in a democracy?
Q6.Can smaller political parties in the UK, like the Green Party or SNP, influence decisions?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is this describing? An occupation pursued over a significant period of a person's life, offering opportunities for progression and development.
Q2.Match the following career roles to their descriptions.
represents a constituency in government and makes laws
provides expert advice to political leaders on key issues
implements policies, especially in public services
researches, investigates and writes news stories
Q3.Complete the sentence: Roles in politics include elected officials, civil servants, and political advisers, all supporting functions.
Q4.Which of the following skills are essential for creating change in politics?
Q5.What is one way to gain experience practical for a career in politics?
Q6.Which of the following is true about working in politics?
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: Working in politics – what can we do?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 citizenship lesson on: Working in politics – what can we do?, 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 4 citizenship lessons from the What are the different ways we can become involved in politics? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.