Resource

Controversial issues: guidance for schools

Conflict and controversy is a fact of life

In an age of mass media and electronic communication, children and young people are regularly exposed to the conflicts and controversies of adult life.

Overview

Children are alert to information and images they see in the media. These may graphically influence their view of the world, and not always positively. Graphic images on TV and online can cause anxieties and increase aggressive behaviour, as children role play war games and toy gunfights. Groups denigrated in the tabloid press provide young people with the…

To access this content, register for our School Subscription.

More Classroom Toolkits resources

Classroom Toolkits

The Art of Positive Criticism

Advice on how to encourage children to support each other in the classroom with tips on how pupils can give feedback in a way that is contructive, protects self-esteem and…

Assessment

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s levels of learning with associated questioning verbs and exemplar questions. To access this content, register for our School Subscription.

Classroom Toolkits, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Talking About Values in the Classroom

What’s included? A consideration of what it means to nurture children’s moral development A suggested methodology through which to...

More Community resources

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Protecting Local Habitats (KS1)

In this lesson pupils will learn the meaning of the word habitat and have an introduction to different habitats that can be found in the UK. Pupils will examine how…

Lessons, Diversity and Inclusion, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Looking Out For Others

In this lesson pupils will think about kind and unkind behaviour. They will consider how they can help and support each other in order to create a happy class community.…

Lessons, Relationships, KS2 (ages 7-11)

What is a Citizen?

In this lesson pupils will be encouraged to think of themselves as citizens with the potential to make a positive difference in society. The lesson opens with the traditional tale…

More Digital Citizenship resources

Lessons, Digital Citizenship, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Who Owns Your Data?

This ready-to-teach double lesson pack is aimed at students in key stages 4 and 5. During the course of...

Lessons, Digital Citizenship, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Ethics, Innovation and the Law

Aimed at KS4 and Post-16, your students will: Explore the way technology is developing and the impacts this has...

Lessons, Digital Citizenship, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Digital Footprints

In this lesson, pupils explore what a digital footprint is. They consider what is and isn’t appropriate to share online thinking about the impact of this information both now and…

More Diversity and Inclusion resources

Lessons, Diversity and Inclusion, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Design an Inclusive Playground

In this lesson pupils will consider the varying needs and interests of the Go-Giver characters and design a playground that matches these requirements. They will work in groups to present…

Certificates, Diversity and Inclusion, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Standing up for Others (certificate)

Our pupil certificates are linked to 12 ethos statements, such as We Stand Up For Others. Each statement supports character development and the acquisition of key citizenship skills The values, skills…

Assemblies, Social Action/Active Citizenship, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Inspirational People – Gandhi

This assembly is an introduction to the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.   Some of the themes that the assembly looks at can be further explored in the lessons: Inspirational…

More Economics, Money and Managing Resources resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS3 (ages 11-14)

What is Debt?

Students will explore issues around money, personal and sovereign debt and consider the impact government borrowing has on future...

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Climate Action: Circular Economies

During this lesson students explore how the economy can be used to support climate action and create a more...

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Economic Cycles

This free classroom resource explores what economic cycles are and how they impact our lives. Aimed at KS4 and...

More Health and Wellbeing resources

Lessons, Diversity and Inclusion, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Conflict: Part 1 – Reacting to Conflict

In this lesson pupils will take part in discussions relating to situations of conflict. Pupils will consider actions which provoke conflict and actions which can help to calm conflict. They…

Class Posters, Relationships, KS1 (ages 5-7)

We Care About How Others Feel (poster)

We try to understand other people’s thoughts and feelings. To access this content, register for our School Subscription.

Lessons, Health and Wellbeing, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Preventing Infectious Diseases

This lesson should be delivered as a follow-up to the lesson ‘What is an infectious disease?’ In this lesson pupils will recap their knowledge of infectious diseases, they will then…

More Politics and Democracy resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS3 (ages 11-14)

What is Debt?

Students will explore issues around money, personal and sovereign debt and consider the impact government borrowing has on future...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Mock Trials Classroom Pack

The Mock Trial Competitions are our longest-running active citizenship experiences. Since 1991, we have provided unparalleled exposure to the...

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS5 (ages 16-18)

The Government and the Economy

By the end of the lesson students will: Understand key economic terms including taxation, welfare benefits, public spending and...

More Relationships resources

Lessons, Relationships, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Respect

This lesson explores the nature of respect. It considers respect for oneself, respect for others, respect in sport and respect for the environment. Suitable for all of KS2. Links: British values,…

Lessons, Diversity and Inclusion, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Looking Out For Others

In this lesson pupils will think about kind and unkind behaviour. They will consider how they can help and support each other in order to create a happy class community.

Lessons, Diversity and Inclusion, KS1 (ages 5-7)

I Am Unique

This lesson focuses on celebrating diversity and respecting differences. During the lesson pupils will gain an understanding of what it means to be unique through participating in a range of…

More Social Action/Active Citizenship resources

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Climate Action: Using the Law to Drive Change

In 2021, COP26 was hosted in Glasgow. It was seen as a pivotal moment in tackling the global climate...

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Litter: The Picnic

In this lesson pupils will follow the story of the Go-Givers having a picnic.  Pupils will think about the problems caused by littering and how they can take responsibility for…

Lessons, Health and Wellbeing, Social Action/Active Citizenship, KS2 (ages 7-11)

The NHS

During this lesson pupils will learn about the founding of the NHS and the guiding principles upon which it was established. Pupils will explore a variety of scenarios in which…

More Sustainability and the Environment resources

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Water: Our Most Precious Resource

In this lesson pupils will learn about the qualities of water and why it is vital to life on Earth.   They will consider the problems facing people who cannot…

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS2 (ages 7-11)

The G7 (Lesson Plan)

During this two lesson resource pupils learn about the G7 and take part in a mock G7 Summit meeting.   During the first lesson pupils explore the history and function…

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Climate Action: Circular Economies

During this lesson students explore how the economy can be used to support climate action and create a more...

More Understanding Rules & The Law resources

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Biodiversity: Using the Law to Drive Change

During this lesson, students consider what biodiversity is, why it is essential to all life on Earth and what...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Law in Wales

Did you know that the age of criminal responsibility in Wales is ten? In Scotland it is 12. In...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Social Media and the Law (KS4) (SmartLaw Subscription)

Students explore the law in relation to social media posts, the types of offences that people are  committing (whether knowingly or not) and the consequences of these offences. Finally, students…

More KS1 (ages 5-7) resources

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Our Rules

A short lesson to help children understand what rules are and why we need them. Learning activities: Imagining the perfect classroom Helpful or not?  Children are asked to explore a…

Lessons, Health and Wellbeing, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Caring for Pets

This lesson starts with a simple story that helps children to explore what responsibilities come with owning a pet. Children then go on to look at what happens when pets…

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS1 (ages 5-7)

What is a Vote?

In this lesson pupils will learn what it means to vote by looking at relatable examples in the lives of the Go-Givers. They will consider why and how votes are…

More KS2 (ages 7-11) resources

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Children’s Rights

In this lesson pupils will learn that there are specific rights for children which are set out in the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child. Pupils will…

Lessons, Health and Wellbeing, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Cancer – Early Detection and Prevention

This lesson has been designed in response to the Big Vote, where children voted on what issues they most cared about. The vote was to mark the ten year anniversary…

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Who Runs the Country?

In this lesson pupils explore who runs the country and how they are elected. Pupils will learn about the important role that MPs play in representing the people who live…

More KS3 (ages 11-14) resources

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Law Makers (SmartLaw Subscription)

In this lesson students examine what the rule of law is and why we need it. They consider how and why laws are made in the UK and what the…

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS3 (ages 11-14)

What is Debt?

Students will explore issues around money, personal and sovereign debt and consider the impact government borrowing has on future...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Cyberbullying (SmartLaw Subscription)

According to research by the charity Ditch the Label, 7 in 10 young people have experienced cyberbullying, 20% of whom experience it daily. Support your students to know their legal…

More KS4 (ages 14-16) resources

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS3 (ages 11-14)

What is a Political Party?

This resource pack is the fourth of a four-part set which has been designed to introduce students to the...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities (SmartLaw Subscription)

This lesson introduces students to the concepts of their legal rights and responsibilities and explores how the law impacts their daily lives. Students explore the different ages that various laws…

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

An Introduction to Discrimination Law (SmartLaw Subscription)

This lesson looks at the history of anti-discrimination law, the different types of discrimination (i.e. direct and indirect discrimination) and how the law deals with discrimination. It can be delivered…

More KS5 (ages 16-18) resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Who’s Really Paying for COVID?

Young people are, and will continue to be, some of the most impacted by COVID. However their voices have...

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

COVID and the Economy

During this session, students will critically examine some of the key economic considerations of the pandemic. They will explore...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Who’s to Blame? (SmartLaw Subscription)

This activity is based on the case of R v. Dudley and Stephens (1884) – two sailors accused of murdering cabin boy Richard Parker, after being cast adrift on the…