CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship teaching is about helping students to understand their role in the local, national and global communities. It is also about empowering students to take action, and helping them to understand the wider impact of their choices. Debate Chamber offer a wide range of exciting in-school activities designed to support school Citizenship teaching at Key Stages 3 and 4.
Learning is through a combination of discussions, group work and special activities. By taking on the role of a newspaper editor, a trial jury, or a Member of Parliament students gain knowledge and understanding while developing crucial skills in advocacy and critical analysis. By requiring students to work together in teams, take on leadership roles, and communicate ideas to their peers, these activities also contribute to important Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning.
All activities are tailored to meet National Curriculum requirements at Key Stages 3 and 4, and support the Edexcel GCSE Citizenship syllabus. Activities last a full day, and are suitable for group sizes from a single class to a whole year group. Timings can be adjusted to accord with your school’s timetable. Extensive support and follow-up materials will help integrate Debate Chamber activities with your schemes of work.
Click on a link for more information about any of our in-school workshops:
How do these activities help meet citizenship aims?
Debating
Taking part in formal debates on controversial issues boosts confidence, improves articulacy, and helps students to reflect on different points of view and critically assess competing ideas. It helps to increase student voice in schools and is excellent training for school council members.
The new KS3 curriculum requires staff to assess oral contributions. Our assessment materials will enable teachers watching the session to give an accurate level for advocacy and representation. Most students should achieve at least a level 5 after participating in a debate.
Mock Election and Parliament
The course covers key topics required by the Power and Politics component of Edexcel GCSE Citizenship (Power, Politics and the Media topic 2.1), by OCR Unit A342 (Fairness and Justice in Decision Making and the Law; Democracy and Voting) and AQA Theme 2 (Democracy and Identity).
During the campaign and parliamentary debates, students will question and reflect on different ideas when exploring topical and controversial issues.They will learn to present convincing arguments, to persuade others to support them, and to represent the views of others.
Journalism
The course covers all topics required by the Media component of Edexcel GCSE Citizenship (Power, Politics and the Media topic 2.2) and supports OCR Unit A342 (Democracy and Voting).
Mock Trial
The course covers all topics required by the Criminal and Civil Justice component of Edexcel GCSE Citizenship (Human Rights topic 1.3). The course also supports OCR Unit A342 (Fairness and Justice in Decision Making and the Law) and AQA Theme 3 (Fairness and Justice).
Model European Union
The Model European Union activity increases students’ political literacy by showing them how European institutions interact. It helps them to understand both how the global community confronts common problems and how decisions taken at the international level affect local communities.
The Economy
During the exercise students will use a range of information, sources and methods to enquire into problems and use a variety of media, including graphs, to explain and interpret information about the state of their economy and the impact of their policies on different groups.
The course, combined with the Trade and Globalisation activity, covers all topics in the Global Business component of Edexcel GCSE Citizenship (The Global Village topic 3.1).
Trade and Globalisation
The course, combined with the Economy activity, covers all topics in the Global Business component of Edexcel GCSE Citizenship (The Global Village topic 3.1). The course also supports OCR Unit A341 (Rights and Responsibilities as Global Citizens).
By examining how global trade policies affect communities in different countries, students will explore the relationship between viewpoints and actions in different contexts, from local to global.