Purpose of the project
Introduction
Topic Web
Activity 1 - Completing the Questionnaire
Activity 2- Illustrations for Questionnaire
Activity 3 - Local Tour
Activity 4 - Your Local Area
Activity 5 - What is the Council?
Activity 6 - Where Does the Council Get Its Money?
Activity 7 - Find Your Councillor
Activity 8 - What Can the Council Do for You?
Activity 9 - Interview Your Councillor
Activity 10 - Create a Community
Activity 11 - Analyse Data from the Questionnaire
Activity 12 - Contribute to a Debates Page
Three Scenarios
Information Sheets

Purpose of the project

• to increase citizenship and involvement in decision making in the borough

• to teach children how local government works, what the Council does and how they can influence decision making

• to raise awareness in young people of "community" and their place in their community

• to nurture responsibility for the immediate environment

• to nurture sensitivity to the needs of others

• to empower young people to question and articulate their views, and to create a direct link with councillors who would respond to young people's questions

• to provide a context for the use of ICT (Information & Communications Technology), in particular handling information and use of the Internet

• to create a forum for young people to discuss local, national and global issues which have a direct effect on their lives

• to encourage links between primary and secondary schools by sharing use of computer facilities

Purpose of the teaching materials

• to provide sample activities for teachers to use and adapt as they see fit

• to provide several possible "ways in" to the project which teachers may choose to link with other work being carried out

• to initiate a bank of ideas which can be improved and added to over subsequent years

Introduction to the teaching materials

These materials have been written to provide teachers with activities which will enable the children to complete the "Lewisham Listens to Young People Questionnaire" and use this core activity to explore many important issues around the notion of "citizenship". Those children involved in the project last year became highly motivated by the work, which also provided valuable opportunities to develop writing and speaking & listening skills, data handling and IT skills, and also provided opportunities to cover elements of other National Curriculum subjects.

We hope that in subsequent years, we shall fully integrate the project into the Lewisham Framework (Jigsaw), and also build a comprehensive range of web sites which will support the activities of the project.

Teaching materials written by John Goodey, St John Baptist Primary

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