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  • Democracy Ambassadors

    Our Democracy Ambassadors programme enables young people aged to learn about our democracy and to champion democratic participation. Read how your young people can start benefiting from these resources... Read more

  1. What we do
  2. Free teaching resources

Free teaching resources

Teaching resources for all phases of education

Young Citizens wants young people to leave education with a grasp of the political, legal and economic functions of society, and with the social and moral awareness to thrive in it. We don't just want schools and colleges to teach citizenship: we also want them to demonstrate citizenship through the way they operate. That is why we provide a high-quality, specialised teaching and learning resources.

The most effective form of learning in citizenship education is:

  • active: emphasises learning by doing
  • interactive: uses discussion and debate
  • relevant: focuses on real-life issues facing young people and society
  • critical: encourages young people to think for themselves
  • collaborative: employs group work and co-operative learning
  • participative: gives young people a say in their own learning

We have developed our teaching and learning materials with these content pillars in mind. Explore how we can help inspire your children. Below is various free teaching resources. However, we do offer various subscription -based programmes that provide a more well-rounded curriculum.

Suggested next steps:

  • Find out more about the full range programmes and citizenship experiences we offer.
  • Look into Go-Givers, our subscription resource offering for primary schools.
  • For secondary schools, look to our SmartLaw resources and Mock Trial competitions.

General Election Resources

On the 29th October MPs backed Boris Johnson's call for an early general election in mid-December. We have a selection of free resources to help teachers explore with their students what is a general election and why we are having one. Read more

Published: 29th October, 2019

Updated: 31st October, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Economic Cycles

Developed in partnership with global business advisory firm FTI Consulting, this free classroom resource explores what economic cycles are and how they impact our lives. Students explore key economic indicators and examine the impact the economy has on its citizens. Read more

Published: 28th October, 2019

Updated: 14th November, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

The Government and the Economy

This free resource examines the role of national governments in relation to taxation and public spending. Ideal follow-up to the 'Economic Cycles' lesson. Read more

Published: 27th October, 2019

Updated: 14th November, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources
European classroom

Managing Controversy in Schools

A free guidance pack for school leaders and senior managers for handling controversy and teaching controversial issues in schools. Read more

Published: 24th October, 2019

Updated: 25th October, 2019

Author: Richard John

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Teaching Controversial Issues

Young people do not always have an opportunity to discuss controversial issues in school because they are seen as too challenging to teach. This free professional development pack is designed to empower teachers. Read more

Published: 24th October, 2019

Updated: 25th October, 2019

Author: Richard John

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Democracy Ambassadors

Our Democracy Ambassadors programme enables young people aged to learn about our democracy and to champion democratic participation. Read how your young people can start benefiting from these resources... Read more

Published: 24th June, 2019

Updated: 16th September, 2019

Author: Richard John

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Ethics, Innovation and the Law

Developed in partnership with Allen and Overy LLP, this free teaching resource gets your learners to consider the role of technology on society and the challenges law makers have in keeping up with the speed of change. Read more

Published: 20th June, 2019

Updated: 9th July, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Introduction to Social Action for Primary Teachers (free online course)

Thanks to a grant from the Pears #iwill Fund, primary school teachers can sign up for a free online training course on the importance of social action and how to introduce activity with your pupils. Find out more... Read more

Published: 4th June, 2019

Updated: 16th August, 2019

Author: Richard John

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Citizenship – a privilege or a right?

The story of Shamima Begum continues to hit the headlines as the news breaks that she will be entitled to legal aid to fight the decision made to revoke her citizenship. Opinions remain divided. Should tax payers foot the bill for her appeal? Was the original decision to revoke her citizenship legal? Read more

Published: 23rd April, 2019

Updated: 24th April, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

All at Sea: A story about fairness and the rule of law

A free KS2 resource to explore moral reasoning using a story about a shipwrecked crew arriving on a desert island. Get your pupils to discuss concepts of sharing, power, democracy and the 'rule of law'. Read more

Published: 18th April, 2019

Updated: 25th June, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Lessons to support SMSC learning

Would you like some free lessons to support SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats" for KS2 children, and the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility" for KS1 children. Read more

Published: 18th December, 2018

Updated: 14th August, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

The Law in Wales

Did you know the law is applied differently around the UK? Welsh schools - get your hands on this free resource developed especially for you. Read more

Published: 4th July, 2018

Updated: 24th April, 2019

Author: Rachel Drayton

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Migration of People

This free lesson explores the various reasons why people choose to migrate. It unpacks the differences between refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants, examining key pieces of legislation to see what rights migrants have in both national and international law. Read more

Published: 18th June, 2018

Updated: 9th December, 2018

Author: Richard John

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Talking about values in the classroom

This teaching unit by citizenship education pioneer Don Rowe accompanies 'Talking about values in the classroom', which introduces KS2 teachers to this method of developing pupils' skills of thinking and talking about moral issues. Read more

Published: 24th March, 2018

Updated: 28th June, 2019

Author: Chris Staplehurst

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources

Controversial issues: guidance for schools

In an age of mass media and electronic communication, children and young people are regularly exposed to the conflicts and controversies of adult life. How can schools help prepare them? Read more

Published: 6th August, 2017

Updated: 1st July, 2019

Author: Richard John

Related topics:
  • Free teaching resources
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Showing 10 of 15

Latest

  • Jack Felvus

    Jack Felvus was a former participant of our programmes and has gone on to become a huge advocate of our work and represented the voice of young people at many events.

  • Meet Jack Felvus, our new Ambassador

    Young Citizens is celebrating our 30th Birthday this year and, to add to the celebration, we have recruited our first young Ambassador . Meet Jack Felvus...

  • Shaping Places

    Shaping Places is a new offer from Young Citizens, that offers schools brokerage and education expertise to the property industry. Discuss how we can support your business with urban planning and design.

  • The SMSC Quality Mark 'verification plus' offer gives teachers' confidence

    As SMSC lead in a EYFS and KS1 school, we recognised the importance of preparing rounded individuals and believed our provision to be of a high standard. The Quality Mark gave us that external validation as well as valuable support. Read more...

Most read

  • British values

  • Importance of citizenship education

  • 7. The importance of citizenship education

  • Free SMSC Resource for Key Stage 2

    Would you like a free lesson to help you develop KS2 children's SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats".

  • Go-Givers Free Trial Pack

    Would you like a free trial pack of lessons to support pupils' SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility" for KS1 children and the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats" for KS2 children.

  • Young Citizens Mock Trials

    Mock Trials

    The Mock Trials are an effective and fun way of helping young people understand how the judicial system works. Learn how you can get involved...

  • Preparing for the Mock Trials

    Why teach citizenship?

  • Lowering the voting age to 16

    Here, we give teachers a little support for debating the topic in class with students. Do young people of this age know enough about politics yet? And if they could vote, can they be trusted to do it sensibly?

  • Free SMSC Resources for Key Stage 1

    Would you like some free lessons to help you develop KS1 children's SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility"

  • Introduction

    We are an education charity that inspires young people to play an active role in society. Find out more...

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curriculum games Highbury Corner key stage 2 ks2 Magistrates' Court Mock Trial Competition MCMT Mock trials scheme of work worksheets

I’ve just got my money back via a ‘Small Claims Court’. Would young people know they can do that?

Our CEO tells of his own recent experience of using the law to protect his rights, and explains why basic legal understanding is vitally important for all young people, if they're to be confident young citizens. Read more

Published: 12th March, 2018

Updated: 18th September, 2018

Author: Tom Franklin

Related topics:
  • Blog

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Young Citizens
37 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ.

Phone +44 (0)20 7566 4141
Email [email protected]

Registered charity no. 801360