Whiteboard resources

Help students unpack Parliament with these interactive guides for the front of the classroom - ideal for electronic whiteboards and classroom projectors.
 

An Introduction to Parliament

Key stages 2-4+
An Introduction to Parliament Teaching Resources

A front-of-the-classroom guide to Parliament's three parts and the difference between Parliament and government.

These resources open in a new, full-screen window for optimal use on whiteboards.

Launch: Intro quiz + full resource

Notes for An Introduction to Parliament

Aims
To introduce the three parts of Parliament: the Commons, the Lords and the monarch.

To illustrate the difference between Parliament and the government, and to show how the government is formed from MPs and Lords.

Level 1 features simpler language, fewer hotspots in the chambers, easier questions and fewer steps in the diagram-building activity.

Levels 2 and 3 move beyond the basics, offering more detail and a greater depth and breadth of learning.

Learning outcomes

Level 1
What democracy is, and about the basic institutions that support it [locally and] nationally (KS2 Citizenship, 2g)

Levels 2 and 3
Understanding and exploring the roles of citizens and parliament in holding government and those in power to account (KS3 Citizenship, 1.1d)

Key features of parliamentary democracy and government in the constituent parts of the UK and at local level, including voting and elections (KS3 Citizenship, 3c)

Teacher's guide
Simple walkthrough guides for making the most of each level.


Usage
This resource is designed as a classroom presentation tool. It has been optimised for use on interactive whiteboards, but can also be used on a standard projector.

Requires Flash player 9 or above and Javascript to be enabled.

 

Elections and voting

Key stages 2-4+
Elections and Voting Teaching Resources

This classroom tool will help your students put UK general elections in context and understand how they give UK citizens a chance to make decisions about how their country is run.

  • Going to the polls invites you to hold a constituency election in the classroom. Hold an election
  • Compare the vote allows you to compare first past the post with other common voting systems including the list system, the alternative vote and the single transferable vote. Compare voting systems
  • Results are in lets your class explore how a UK general election result translates to 'seats' in the House of Commons. Turn votes into seats

The resource opens in a new, full-screen window for optimal use on whiteboards.

Launch: Intro quiz + full resource

Notes for Elections and voting

Aims
To familiarise students with general elections in the UK, including:

  • how candidates compete against one another to win constituency seats in parliamentary elections
  • how general election results translate to 'seats' in the House of Commons
  • how the voting system for UK general elections compares with systems elsewhere in the UK and around the world.  

Level 1 features simpler language, and fewer steps in the class and worksheet activities. Levels 2 and 3 move beyond the basics, offering a greater breadth and depth of learning and the opportunity to explore more options.  

Learning outcomes
This resource supports the Citizenship and political literacy strands of the National Curriculum - in particular the teaching of democracy, elections and voting across key stages 2-4 and above.

Students can explore the key features of parliamentary democracy and government in the constituent parts of the UK, including voting and elections (particularly relevant at KS3). They also have the chance to compare and contrast the UK form of government and voting system in general elections with systems in other parts of the UK and in other countries (a learning outcome at KS4).

The resource also supports GCSE and A level citizenship studies by looking at the nature of representative democracy and democratic processes that involve the participation of citizens in decision making. 

Teacher's guide
Simple walkthrough guides for making the most of each level.

Worksheets
Downloadable worksheets for students to complement the whiteboard resource.

Usage
This resource is designed as a classroom presentation tool. It has been optimised for use on interactive whiteboards, but can also be used on a standard projector.

Requires Flash player 9 or above and Javascript to be enabled.

Making laws

Key stages 2-4+
Making Laws Teaching Resources

This whiteboard resource will help your students understand the process for scrutinising and passing new laws, and will introduce them to some key legislation from history.

  • Debate a bill in either the House of Commons or House of Lords and decide which questions you would ask a minister to check (s)he has considered all the issues. Debate a bill
  • The Timeline challenge gives you 45 seconds to sort through some key bills from the last two centuries that have improved our voting rights, education, working hours and welfare. Take the challenge
  • From bill to law allows you to construct your own diagram showing the passage of a bill through the House of Commons and House of Lords, before it receives final approval from the monarch. Pass a bill into law
Launch: Intro quiz + full resource

Notes for Making laws

Aims
To help students understand the process for passing new laws, and amending existing ones.

To make students aware of the role of the different parts of Parliament in making laws, including the House of Commons, House of Lords, committees of both Houses, and the monarch.

To introduce students to Parliament’s role of scrutiny, and to encourage critical thinking about issues of enforcement, public support, economic impact, and more.

To make students aware of the importance of law-making by introducing them to key legislation from UK history, on the subjects of welfare reform, educational reform, voting rights, and changes to working hours.

To encourage students to debate issues relevant to their lives and improve their ability to give reasoned arguments, provide evidence to support them, and consider the validity of others’ arguments.

Learning outcomes
This front-of-classroom resource supports the teaching of political literacy for students of Government and Politics, Citizenship, General Studies and other subjects, by focusing on Parliament's role in making laws.

Specific learning outcomes from the Citizenship curriculum at key stages three and four include:

Participating actively in different kinds of decision-making and voting in order to influence public life (KS3 and 4 Citizenship, 1.1a)

Understanding and exploring the roles of citizens and Parliament in holding government and those in power to account (KS3 and 4 Citizenship, 1.1d)

Engaging with and reflecting on different ideas, opinions, beliefs and values when exploring topical and controversial issues and problems (KS3 and 4 Citizenship, Critical thinking and enquiry, 2.1a)

Expressing and explaining their own opinions to others through discussions, formal debates and voting (KS3 and 4 Citizenship, Advocacy and representation, 2.2a)

Teacher's guide
Simple walkthrough guides for making the most of each level. 

Lesson plans
Lesson plans suggesting how to integrate the resource into a classroom session about debating bills. Three different options are available to suit a range of student abilities.

Usage
This resource is designed as a classroom presentation tool. It has been optimised for use on interactive whiteboards, but can also be used on a standard projector.

Requires Flash player 9 or above and Javascript to be enabled.

General Elections Explained

Watch as comedian Jay Foreman explores what happens during a general election and questions why young people should take part. Available to order for key stage 3 and 4 students.

Educational games

  • Play MP For A Week

    Could you cut it as an MP? Designed for 11-16 year-olds, this game drops you into the shoes of a backbencher.

  • Play Race Against Chime

    Dangling from the world’s most famous clock you’ll need to clean its face before time expires.

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