Channel 4 Learning


Life Stuff

Home | Students | Teachers | TV | Credits | Graphic Version

Teachers

Teachers Info | Events | Politics Activities | Citizenship Activities | PSHE Activities | Careers Activities

Citizenship Activities

Below is a list of the Life Stuff interactive resources that support Citizenship for 14-19 year olds.

Culture Zone | Be There | Money Matters | Respect | 4 Life

Culture Zone

What does it mean to be a British citizen? Ever since the Celts arrived on the landmass we know as the United Kingdom in first century AD, we have been a nation of migrants.

In this interactive timeline students discover the benefits immigrants from all over the world have brought to UK. Over 35 topics are covered including Roman occupation, the origins of fish and chips, the arrival of HMS Windrush and Bhangra music.

Aims:

During this activity, students will explore what it means to be British. After completing the activity and the accompanying worksheet, students should be able to:

Citizenship, KS4

Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens Developing skills of enquiry and communication Developing skills of participation and responsible action Culture Zone activity text
Culture Zone activity worksheet

Top of Page

Be There

At 17, society trusts teenagers enough to operate a moving vehicle on a motorway but doesn't trust them enough to make decisions about the country they live in.

While many teenagers can't vote, they can still be highly influential in bringing about change. By joining pressure groups, teenagers can lobby the government and make radical changes from the ground up.

Five articles address a variety of key issues; from pollution, public transport, taxes, speeding, protesting, and drink driving. Each area has an accompanying quiz which test users knowledge as they progress on their virtual journey.

Aims:

During this activity, students will explore laws, where they start off from, and why they're made. After completing the activity and accompanying worksheet, students should be able to:

Citizenship, KS4

Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens Developing skills of participation and responsible action Be There activity text
Be There activity worksheet

Top of Page

Money Matters

Every day, consumers make choices that impact on the lives of people around the world.

When a purchase is made at the supermarket, the customer's choice influences which suppliers the supermarket chain chooses to use. By increasing or decreasing demand customers determine, for instance, whether the bananas available are organic or covered in pesticides.

There are 8 locations to explore including the corner shop, coffee shop and farm. Topics include consumer rights and responsibilities, globalisation, fair trade and organic foods.

Aims:

During this activity students will find out what it means to be a consumer. After completing the activity and accompanying worksheet students will be able to:

Citizenship, KS4

Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens Developing skills of enquiry and communication Money Matters activity text
Money Matters activity worksheet

Top of Page

Respect

The UK's Human Rights Act 1998 came into force in 2000 and incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights.

In this activity students explore the concept of human rights around the world and discover that, although in principle it’s good, few nations take it seriously.

Students can investigate the human rights records of 12 countries including Russia, USA, South Africa, Serbia, Colombia, Israel and Afghanistan. Each countries notes include case studies, comprehensive background detail and key event information.

Aims:

During this activity students will explore the issue of human rights in different countries. After completing the activity and accompanying worksheet students should be able to:

Citizenship, KS4

Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens Developing skills of enquiry and communication Developing skills of participation and responsible action Respect activity text
Respect activity worksheet

Top of Page

4 Life

Hari is the new kid on the block. He's looking forward to starting college and making friends.

Life is looking pretty good... that is, until he encounters a racist gang who are terrorising the neighbourhood.

Major social issues, like racism or gender discrimination, cannot be viewed in black 'n' white. We all have the capability to be perpetrators as well as be potential targets of hurtful acts.

Many people are singled out unjustly - because of the colour of their skin, or their sex, their religion, or because of disability - and subjected to acts of discrimination or violence.

According to the British Crime Survey, in 1999 there were 280,000 racially motivated incidents.

Some people try to avoid situations where bullying might happen. It can make people so worried that they skip school or leave work, won't leave their houses, or conversely run away from home.

Step into Hari's shoes and see if you can help him make some difficult, perhaps controversial, choices.

Aims:

During this activity students will consider racism and bullying. They reflect on different situations in which they might see or hear bullying and racist behaviour. After completing the activity and accompanying worksheet students should be able to:

Citizenship, KS4

Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens Developing skills of enquiry and communication Developing skills of participation and responsible action

PSHE, KS4

4 Life activity text
4 Life activity worksheet

Top of Page