Understanding Elections and Roles

Overview

Duration: 90 minutes
Class size: 10 students
Age group: Year 9
Subject: PSHE
Curriculum focus: National Curriculum for England – Citizenship and Personal Wellbeing linked to democratic participation (Referencing Citizenship content embedded in PSHE as per DfE guidelines)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

Outline how elections are carried out for:
a) school council elections
b) local elections
c) national elections
(NC link: KS3 Citizenship – Political Literacy: Understand the democratic process and institutions)
Understand and outline the main roles of:
a) a school council representative
b) a local councillor
c) a Member of Parliament (MP)
(NC link: KS3 Citizenship – Political Literacy: Explore the roles of political representatives and democratic accountability)
Develop skills in critical thinking and active participation by analysing the importance of voting and representation at different levels.

Resources Needed

Whiteboard & markers
Printed election role cards (School council, local councillor, MP)
Ballot papers and ballot box (for mock election)
Projector for short video clip (optional)
Worksheet for note-taking
Sticky notes and pens for group activity

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes): Quick Vote & Discussion

Activity: Students are asked a simple, engaging question requiring a vote (e.g., "Which school activity should we have next term?")
Students vote by secret ballot using ballot papers and place in the box.
Teacher counts votes and announces results.
Brief discussion: "What did you notice about the voting process?" "Why do we use secret ballots?"
Purpose: Introduce democratic participation and voting mechanics through direct experience.

2. Input & Explanation (15 minutes): How Elections Work

Teacher-led interactive presentation outlining:
- School council elections:
  - Candidate nominations
  - Posters and campaigns
  - Secret ballot voting
  - Counting votes and announcing results
- Local elections:
  - Registration on the electoral roll
  - Campaigning by candidates
  - Use of polling stations and postal voting
  - First-past-the-post system
- National elections:
  - Greater scale of voter registration
  - Political parties and manifestos
  - Parliamentary constituencies
  - Voting process and results declaration
Use a Venn diagram on the board to show similarities and differences between the three election types.

3. Group Activity (20 minutes): Election Role Cards

Divide class into 3 groups; each group receives role cards for:
- a school council representative
- a local councillor
- an MP
Groups discuss and list main duties and responsibilities based on their role cards.
Prompt questions:
- What does your role do day-to-day?
- How does your role help people?
- How might your role be elected/selected?
Each group then presents a 3-minute summary to the class.
Teacher corrects, adds, and clarifies points.

4. Discussion and Critical Thinking (15 minutes): Why Are These Roles Important?

Whole-class discussion facilitated by teacher:
- What happens if these roles didn’t exist?
- How do these roles connect to our everyday lives?
- How can people influence decisions beyond just voting?
- What skills do you think are important to be good in these roles?
Write key points on the board.

5. Paired Task (15 minutes): Mock Election

Each pair designs a quick campaign poster for a school council election candidate.
Include what promises they would make and why people should vote for them.
Pairs present their poster briefly to the class.
Followed by an actual secret ballot vote with the posters as campaign materials.
Discuss the democratic process and how elections can impact school life.

6. Plenary & Assessment (15 minutes): Reflect and Quiz

Use a short written quiz (5 questions) based on lesson objectives:
1. Outline one key step in school council elections.
2. Name one main responsibility of a local councillor.
3. What voting system is used in national elections?
4. Why is voting important in a democracy?
5. Give an example of how an MP represents people.
Collect answers for assessment of learning.
Final reflection: Students write one sentence on a sticky note about what they found most interesting or surprising.

Differentiation

Provide sentence starters and keywords for students who need support during written tasks.
Stretch tasks for higher ability students: Research an MP representing their area and share one recent action they’ve taken.

Links to National Curriculum (England)

PSHE Association Programme of Study (Core theme 3 – Living in the wider world):
- Understand how democracy is expressed in school and local communities.
- Recognise the role of public institutions and voluntary groups in society.
- Develop skills for participation and responsible action.
Citizenship KS3 (DfE statutory guidance) content:
- Understanding how the democratic process works (school, local & national level).
- Exploring roles and responsibilities of representatives including school councils, local government officials, and MPs.

Extension/Homework

Research a recent local or national election and prepare a summary describing one candidate and the election outcome.
Reflect on how this election compares with school council elections.

This detailed and interactive lesson plan actively involves students in experiencing, understanding, and reflecting on elections and representative roles aligned precisely with the National Curriculum for England. It builds civic awareness essential for young citizens while practising democratic skills in an age-appropriate, memorable way.