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Year 8

How can we campaign and influence change?

I can describe what campaigning is, identify successful examples of campaigns and explain ways to lobby.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 8

How can we campaign and influence change?

I can describe what campaigning is, identify successful examples of campaigns and explain ways to lobby.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Campaigning involves persuading individuals to support a cause or alter their behaviour through organised actions.
  2. The use of social media and online campaigns are a powerful mechanism for raising awareness and mobilising support.
  3. Lobbying targets decision-makers, including MPs and Peers, to advocate for action on specific issues.
  4. Effective lobbying can result in policy changes or localised improvements, contributing to societal advancements.
  5. Campaigning and lobbying are essential democratic rights so individuals can influence decisions and promote change.

Keywords

  • Campaign - actions or events organised by an individual or a group of people to achieve an aim

  • Campaigning - the process of persuading people to support a campaign or to change their behaviour

  • Lobby - when an individual or a group tries to persuade someone in Parliament to support a particular policy or campaign; lobbying can be done in person, by sending letters or emails, or via social media

Common misconception

You can only lobby MPs.

You can lobby MPs, local councillors and any politicans to try and influence change. Any decision-maker can be lobbied.


To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: How can we campaign and influence change?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You could contact a local councillor who could answer questions about lobbying from your class, either online or in person if all the safeguarding requirements are met. This would give pupils a real perspective on what it is like to lobby for change.
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Equipment

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word with its correct definition.
Correct Answer:groups,collections of people or things that share something in common
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collections of people or things that share something in common

Correct Answer:society,people living together in an ordered community
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people living together in an ordered community

Correct Answer:change,the process of becoming different or making something different
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the process of becoming different or making something different

Q2.
Order the name of the pressure group that protects the rights of animals.
1 - Royal
2 - Society
3 - for the
4 - Prevention
5 - of Cruelty
6 - to
7 - Animals
Q3.
What are petitions, marches and demonstrations examples of?
government policies
legal proceedings
Correct answer: campaign methods
economic strategies
Q4.
Groups that try to persuade the Government, or those in power, to do something or change something are called?
Correct answer: pressure groups
persuade groups
perserverance groups
petition groups
Q5.
Greenpeace help to protect the for future generations.
Correct Answer: environment, world, land
Q6.
The Fair movement is an example of a social movement.
Correct Answer: Trade

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:campaigning,the process of persuading people to support them achieve an aim
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the process of persuading people to support them achieve an aim

Correct Answer:campaigns,actions or events organised by people to achieve an aim
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actions or events organised by people to achieve an aim

Correct Answer:lobby,when people try to persuade someone in Parliament to support an issue
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when people try to persuade someone in Parliament to support an issue

Q2.
Which source of new media is a powerful mechanism for spreading awareness and mobilising support?
newspapers
radio
Correct answer: social media
television
Q3.
Who can you not lobby?
politicians
Peers
MPs
Correct answer: courts
Q4.
What can happen as a result of lobbying?
Correct answer: a change of policies
a change of houses
Correct answer: a change in law
a change of government
Q5.
Lots of charities provide advice on how to lobby, offering guidance on how to write to the Government and how to set up a with your MP to see them face-to-face.
Correct Answer: meeting, appointment, surgery session, surgery appointment, office meeting
Q6.
Campaigning and lobbying are essential parts of the UK governmental system which is called a ...
dictatorship
monarchy
Correct answer: democracy
anarchy