Citizenship
Embedded Files
Year 9 & 10
Year 9 & 10
Read
"You Don’t Know What War Is" by Yeva Skalietska:
A real diary by a young Ukrainian girl fleeing war. Themes of asylum and children’s rights.
"Know Your Rights (And Claim Them)" by Amnesty International:
A practical guide to young people's rights written with Angelina Jolie.
Articles from The Guardian’s Society section:
Read real stories about housing, health, poverty, and public services:
https://www.theguardian.com/society
Local News Outlets: Regularly read publications like the Liverpool Echo to stay informed about local civic issues and events. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/
Listen
The Week Junior Show: This podcast covers the biggest news stories in a fun, informative way. Available on Apple and Spotify.
Newscast (BBC): A clear, accessible take on UK and global current affairs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06rrnwr
What’s News? by The Day: A short, current affairs podcast that explains the news for secondary school students. https://theday.co.uk/
Justice with Sweetie Cherry: A teen-friendly podcast where the host discusses real-life justice issues, law, and young people's rights. Available on Spotify
KidLit These Days (Book Riot): Explores how books for young people reflect social justice issues like race, gender, and inequality.
https://bookriot.com/listen/shows/kidlittthesedays/
Peace Out Podcast: A mindfulness podcast for younger teens, it also covers themes of empathy, kindness, and resilience – all important in social justice. Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
Dear Teenager: Teens speak directly about social issues, identity, and activism from a personal perspective. Available on Spotify
Watch
Panorama (BBC): Investigative series covering real UK issues like housing, crime, politics, and justice. Watch on BBC
Dispatches: In-depth looks at UK social justice issues such as inequality, education, and the justice system. Watch on Channel 4
Pride: Based on true events, this film tells the story of LGBTQ+ activists who supported striking Welsh miners during the 1984-85 miners’ strike, showing unity across communities.
Watch on Amazon Prime
Made in Dagenham: A dramatization of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists' strike in the UK, where women fought for equal pay and helped spark the Equal Pay Act.
Watch on Amazon Prime
Stephen - The Murder That Changed a Nation:
A powerful dramatization of the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the long campaign by his family to bring justice and expose institutional racism in the police.
Watch on ITVX
Mr Bates vs The Post Office:
This four-part drama tells the true story of postmasters falsely accused of theft due to a faulty computer system, and their fight to clear their names.
Watch on ITVX
Anne: A moving ITV drama about Anne Williams, the mother of a Hillsborough disaster victim, and her decades-long fight to uncover the truth and achieve justice.
Watch on ITVX
The Jury: Murder Trial: A documentary recreating a real UK murder trial with two separate juries to explore how different people interpret the same evidence.
Watch on Channel 4
Research
Task: Research who your local representatives are and what they do.
Activities:
1. Identify your local councillor and MP using TheyWorkForYou.com
2. Research how local council decisions are made (Liverpool City Council website).
3. Write a mock letter to your MP about a local issue that matters to you.
Task: Explore how protest and activism have shaped Liverpool’s identity.
Activities:
1. Research historical movements like the Liverpool dock strikes, anti-racism campaigns, or Hillsborough justice campaigns.
2. Use museum archives (e.g. Museum of Liverpool or International Slavery Museum).
3. Create a timeline, podcast episode, or presentation on what you learned.
Task: Study a local issue (e.g. food poverty, homelessness, housing, or education inequality) and explore efforts to solve it.
Activities:
1. Volunteer or connect with a local charity like the Liverpool Food Network or The Whitechapel Centre.
2. Research policies from Liverpool City Council on social issues.
3. Write a case study highlighting the problem and solutions.
Task: Investigate how teens can get involved in local politics.
Activities:
1. Research Liverpool Youth Parliament and how it influences decisions.
2. Interview a youth MP or councillor (or watch their public meetings online).
3. Create a blog post, video, or leaflet explaining how others can take part.
Task: Research how fair the UK legal system is by comparing youth justice statistics in Liverpool vs national trends.
Activities:
1. Visit Liverpool Crown Court to observe a trial.
2. Interview a local legal professional or use online sources like Youth Justice Board reports.
3. Present your findings in a report or presentation.
Visit
International Slavery Museum: Gain insights into human rights issues and Liverpool's historical role in the transatlantic slave trade.
https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/international-slavery-museum
Walker Art Gallery: Explore exhibitions that reflect social justice themes and the role of art in societal commentary. https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker-art-gallery
National Justice Museum, Nottingham:
Interactive exhibitions on law, justice, and crime. Great for understanding the UK legal system in a hands-on way. https://www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk
Houses of Parliament, London:
Book a free tour of Westminster to learn how laws are made and democracy works in practice.
https://www.parliament.uk/visiting
Creative
Design a Civic Awareness Poster: Create a poster highlighting a local or national civic issue, aiming to inform and engage the community.
Develop a Short Documentary: Produce a short film exploring a citizenship topic, such as community service or local governance.
Start a Community Blog: Write regular posts discussing citizenship topics, encouraging community interaction and discussion.
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