Resources for school teachers
- SUBTOPICS
Hands Up! - exploring decision-making and action in our place
Hands up! – Exploring decision making and action in our place – is a series of hands-on activities for primary and intermediate students working at levels 1 to 4 which explores identity, groups, decision-making, political structures and social action. The Hands up! teacher resource includes a conceptual overview, background information for teachers and students, activity materials and assessment suggestions. While Hands up! is designed as a complete unit, its activities will work standalone or as part of another unit with a related focus. Hands up! will adapt easily for use at higher levels. More »
Elect! - running elections for learning
Elect! helps schools (or anyone else) run authentic elections and referendums. It can be used in its entirety as a significant study unit, “cherrypicked”, focused or scaled to suit any learning, administrative or electoral context. After a comprehensive introduction for teachers, modules cover: the role of elections; franchise; electoral systems and electorates; running elections and election day; the roles of parties, candidates, lobby groups and the news media; counting and analysing votes; getting the elected body to work or decision implemented. More »
- ARTICLES
Hands up for a little help in the classroom!
We’re here to lend a hand with great teaching and research resources crammed full of information to help learning about, and participating in, New Zealand’s political life. Read more »
Now or never - electoral participation literature review
Political Science research indicates that political participation is a learnt habit which is in decline. One strong predictor of levels of participation is efficacy, which refers to an individual’s perception of their ability to know what is going on, be heard and make a difference politically. Another strong predictor is the extent to which people think an election is a real contest and therefore if it is worth voting. Participation is declining as efficacy declines, elections are seen as less competitive and people do not acquire the habit of voting let alone other forms of political participation. The most likely way to stop the decline in adult political participation is for students to acquire the habit at school. A literature review provides a basis for this diagnosis. Read more »
Newspapers in Education 2005 election study
Developed by APN Newspapers in Education with the Electoral Commission as sponsoring partner, this 2005 General Election Resource Kit has about 50 short topics based in newspaper and broader news media research which can be mixed and matched to meet every class or teacher need - including use alongside other resources and activities. Read more »
Paciviced.net - Pacific civic education case studies
This page hosts case studies for Paciviced.net - a network of Pacific civics educators. These case studies were presented at the network's first meeting, held in Fiji in October 2006. Read more »
