Teaching Suffrage - inspiring new Citizenship and History resources for schools

Today we are delighted that new Citizenship and History teaching resources have been published for secondary schools. 

www.suffrageresources.org.uk

The resources have been developed by ACT and the Historical Association with support from the Cabinet Office and the Government Equalities Office as part of work to celebrate 100 years of votes for women.

The new materials, Having a say are designed to inspire and engage students in democracy as well as help them to explore issues of suffrage and equality through historical and contemporary campaigning. The Citizenship lessons and teaching ideas address key questions: Is there inequality today and how can we change things? What makes a change maker successful? How can we take action?

The resources include:

• six units with teaching ideas for Citizenship lessons
• case studies of contemporary campaigners including young people, business people, lawyers and politicians
• student resources and activities to encourage active, democratic citizenship
• film materials of students from Hamilton Academy in Leicestershire interviewing Baroness Garden of Frognal about equality and citizenship, to illustrate how pupils can use structured interviews to illicit understanding and learn from change makers today.

The lessons are designed for use with Key Stage 3 students and may be adapted for use with Key Stage 4. At the start of each lesson, there is a knowledge check to help teachers check that students have grasped the knowledge from previous sections. Activities in the lessons can also be used flexibly for example as part of assemblies, workshops or off-timetable sessions with students.

The resources have been developed with ACT member teachers and trialled in schools across the country.

“We were delighted to work with the Historical Association to develop these exciting new resources. The materials exemplify how Citizenship teaching can build on the historical context to ensure students learn about democracy, suffrage and equality and the importance of campaigning as active, democratic citizens today.”
Liz Moorse, ACT Chief Executive

“This project has been a great opportunity to explore the many women and men that have helped to develop the rich democratic history that this country has. Working with ACT has enabled us to put that story into some of its modern contexts. “
Rebecca Sullivan, CEO of the Historical Association