An Introduction to Parliament and Government
Lesson Objectives:
- To understand the difference between parliament and goverement.
- To learn how laws are made.
- To be able to understand and begin explain key words and terms: The cabinet, polictical parties, the opposition,the executive, judiciary, and the free press.
Starter Task: Ask the young people to write on the post-it-note in front of them any ideas they have as to what parliament might be ? Where it is ? Who works in there? What its role is ? How is it different to goverement ? (2 minutes). Then ask the young people to feedback their ideas to the class. The post-it- notes are to be stuck to the wall to be reflected on at the end of the lesson.
Task One: Ask the young people to watch and listen the BBC clip below to give them some basic information about parliament. Then discuss the clip, and reinforce the ideas presented. Ask the young people if they have any questions so far in the lesson. (5-10 minutes)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z4mkq6f
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z4mkq6f
Task Two (Main Task: This would ideally be carried out in an extended lesson, or over two lessons) Parliament and goverement is often an area of Citizenship that is seen as something that is going to be difficult and dull (to teach, and for young people to engage with and understand). However, this activity invites the young people to work together to carry out tasks and activities to explore parliament and goverement. Future lessons will build on the basic knowledge that the young people gain from this lesson. Each table will have a variety of information on particular aspects of parliament and goverement which the young people will complete in a set amount amount of time (10 minutes per activity?). On each table there will be an information sheet, or an activity sheet that they can write their notes on, and a few activities surrounding that area of parliament or goverement.
Table One: The Three Parts to Parliament
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Table Two: The Government
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Table Three: How are Laws made?
The young people on this table are asked to watch a short clip and then produce a flow chart of how laws are made.
parliament.uk (2014)
Table Four: Key Terminology
Watch each of these short clips,and then collectively write down a definition of what you think each one of the following terms mean.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Free Press
UNESCO (2013)
Judiciary
Alot of the video is not needed for this lesson, but does put the term into context and gives some further background information.
Alot of the video is not needed for this lesson, but does put the term into context and gives some further background information.
This next clip is really useful and could be used soley, or as a summary of all four key terminology.
Plenary Task: On the post-it- notes in front of you, i would like you to write down three pieces of information that you have learnt about today, and then stick the post-it-notes on the wall next to your note from the start of the lesson. The young people, and the teacher are then able to see the amount of progress that they have made in the lesson.
Homework Task: From todays lesson, using all the information you have collected and your own research. I would like you to produce a chart or diagram to show how the British System of Governement works (A3 Paper). It would be good to use icons and illustrations to make your diagram interesting and easier to revise from.