New
New
Year 10

What is speaking truth to power?

I can explain what speaking truth to power means, and how a speech can be used to challenge injustice and influence change.

New
New
Year 10

What is speaking truth to power?

I can explain what speaking truth to power means, and how a speech can be used to challenge injustice and influence change.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Speaking truth to power means challenging unfairness by sharing honest views with those in charge.
  2. People in power include leaders, politicians, and organisations that can make or change rules.
  3. Speeches and messages can be powerful tools to challenge injustice and raise awareness.
  4. Speaking out helps influence change and can inspire others to take action too.

Keywords

  • Power - having control or authority over something or someone

  • Injustice - when something is not fair or right, especially when someone's rights are violated

Common misconception

Only famous people or those in power can speak truth to power and challenge injustice to make a difference.

Anyone, including young people, can speak truth to power and challenge injustice. Powerful speeches and actions have come from ordinary individuals who spoke out with courage and clarity.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is speaking truth to power?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Empower pupils by showing examples of young people and everyday individuals making change. Remind them their voices matter and can have real impact when used with confidence and purpose.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does injustice mean?
a fair rule everyone agrees with
a law that helps all people
Correct answer: unfair treatment or lack of rights
a disagreement of opinion
Q2.
Who leads the UK Government?
Correct Answer: the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
Q3.
What is a community?
a group of buildings used for events
a team of people working on a project
a list of people who work in government
Correct answer: a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic
Q4.
Match the campaign method with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:petition,collecting signatures to show public support

collecting signatures to show public support

Correct Answer:protests,public gatherings to demand social change

public gatherings to demand social change

Correct Answer:social media,using online platforms to raise awareness

using online platforms to raise awareness

Correct Answer:posters and leaflets,printed materials to inform and persuade

printed materials to inform and persuade

Correct Answer:public speeches,speaking out to influence public opinion

speaking out to influence public opinion

Correct Answer:lobbying,seeking to influence decision-makers

seeking to influence decision-makers

Q5.
What does discrimination mean?
Correct Answer: unfair treatment, treating people unequally, leaving someone out unfairly, unjust treatment, treating people unfairly
Q6.
Marcus Rashford famously campaigned for which issue?
Correct answer: Free School Meals
gender equality
LGBT rights
Civil Rights

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:injustice,when something is not fair or right

when something is not fair or right

Correct Answer:power,having control or authority over something or someone

having control or authority over something or someone

Correct Answer:speaking truth to power,to confront those who hold important positions

to confront those who hold important positions

Q2.
Match the types of power with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:legal,to make or enforce laws

to make or enforce laws

Correct Answer:economic,control over money or resources

control over money or resources

Correct Answer:social,status or relationships

status or relationships

Correct Answer:cultural,influencing people’s beliefs or values

influencing people’s beliefs or values

Q3.
Malala Yousafzai is most famously known for speaking truth to power about which issue?
poverty
Correct answer: girls' education
racism
Q4.
Which activist speaks truth to power about climate change today?
Martin Luther King Jr.
Nelson Mandela
Correct answer: Greta Thunberg
Q5.
Which one is missing from this list of three things which make a speech more effective and powerful? Pathos, logos and ...
Correct Answer: ethos, ethos.
Q6.
Who can speak truth to power?
adults
influencers or celebrities
Correct answer: anyone