Primary Education
The introduction of the PSHE and Citizenship Guidelines in September 2000 has provided recognition of, and guidance for, the work which many schools were already doing in Citizenship.
- The non-statutory guidelines for Key Stages 1 and 2 can be downloaded from the National Curriculum website.
- QCA schemes of work for Key Stages 1 and 2 are available from the DfES standards website.
- You may also find useful ideas for interpreting the guidance on the DfES site or by joining the Association for Citizenship Teaching.
Citizenship Education can take many forms, including:
- Project work on topical issues
- Through PSHE
- Through all subjects
- Form time/tutorial periods
- Assemblies (teacher led and class assemblies)
- Special Activities or events
- Class/School Council
- School Newspaper/Magazine
- Extra Curricula Activities/Clubs/Societies
- Formal Award Schemes
- Debates
- Games
- Discussion
- Role play
- Visitors and speakers from outside
- Rules written by pupils
- Community links and visits
- Playground projects
- Healthy Schools Programmes
Primary Resources
Teachers and local communities were very much involved in the development of our primary resources. And the resources reflect the Institute's belief that:
- Teachers know what makes good resources.
- Community links are central to Citizenship education.
- Learning through doing is important for all subjects but particularly Citizenship.
The teachers' resource books include:
- Themed lesson plans
- Ideas for discussion and extension activities
- Photocopiable resource sheets
- Detailed guidance on using the lesson plans and photos
- Curriculum links and how activities can build on work done in other subjects
- Background information about each topic
For Years 1 and 2, there is a large flipover photobook that provides interesting photos of active citizenship that can be discussed by the whole class.
For Years 3 to 6, there are A4 photos in packs of 24, which can be discussed by pupils in groups or by the whole class. There is also clear guidance in the teacher's resource books about imaginative and varied ways of using the photos.
The series is entitled Citizenship for Primary Schools.