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Year 7

How can young people be involved in local decision making?

I can describe how young people can be included in local decision making and plan an active citizenship campaign.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 7

How can young people be involved in local decision making?

I can describe how young people can be included in local decision making and plan an active citizenship campaign.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Local issues are concerns or problems that directly affect a specific community or area.
  2. Campaigning techniques include petitioning, protesting, raising awareness and volunteering.
  3. Young active citizens take action to improve areas by identifying issues, planning, working together and evaluating.

Keywords

  • Issue - an important problem or topic to consider, discuss or debate

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

  • Action - practical steps designed to try to raise public awareness or influence key decision-makers

  • Active citizen - a person who actively takes responsibility, becomes involved in areas of public concern and tries to make a positive difference in their community

Common misconception

Young people can't have a real influence on local decision making because they are not old enough to vote or be a councillor.

Young people can have a significant impact by speaking up, raising awareness, organising community actions and engaging with local leaders. They can be powerful voices for change, especially when working together and being persistent.

Pupils could be encouraged to put their Task C plan into action in their local communities in order to improve their active citizenship skills.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
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Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes having the right to vote?
Correct Answer: suffrage, franchise, political franchise
Q2.
The minimum age you can register to vote in Scotland and Wales is ...
16
Correct answer: 14
18
15
Q3.
Match the voting eligibility criteria to its correct meaning.
Correct Answer:residency,where a person lives
tick

where a person lives

Correct Answer:nationality,where a person is from or where they are a citizen of
tick

where a person is from or where they are a citizen of

Correct Answer:age,how old a person is
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how old a person is

Q4.
What is the name of the event where the main purpose is: to encourage people to register to vote, inform them of the voting process and encourage them to vote on election day?
campaign community day
electoral roll fair
election training
Correct answer: voter registration drive
community outreach fair
Q5.
Put the voting steps into the correct order, starting with the earliest.
1 - Person checks their eligibility to register to vote.
2 - Eligible person joins electoral roll via online or paper form.
3 - A polling card is sent to the person, showing where they should go to vote.
4 - Person takes photo ID to the polling station on election day and votes.
Q6.
Which of these are examples of being an active citizen?
Correct answer: joining a litter pick
not engaging with local campaigns
Correct answer: raising awareness of local issues
Correct answer: volunteering and supporting local causes
not following the law

6 Questions

Q1.
What term is used to describe when people are affected by things like litter, noise or pollution in their local area?
Correct Answer: Local issues, problems, concerns, issues, Local problems
Q2.
When vermin, pollution, noise and litter begin to affect a local community, it can have a negative impact on people's health and ...
Correct Answer: wellbeing, well being, well-being
Q3.
Choose step three from the following options. The correct order for planning a campaign action is to 1) plan, 2) take action and 3) ...
be persisent
Correct answer: evaluate
work with others
Q4.
Which of these are ways young people under 18 can influence decisions in their local area?
Correct answer: organise an event to raise awareness
Correct answer: write letters or start/sign petitions
write a diary about local events
Correct answer: speak with local decision-makers
read the local news
Q5.
Match the campaign method with its examples.
Correct Answer:raising awareness ,displays, posters, art, performances
tick

displays, posters, art, performances

Correct Answer:online campaigns,social media, vlogs, blogs, hashtags
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social media, vlogs, blogs, hashtags

Correct Answer:events,protests, marches, community gatherings
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protests, marches, community gatherings

Correct Answer:informing others,talking with others, holding meetings with officials
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talking with others, holding meetings with officials

Q6.
Order the words to create a sentence that describes what an active citizen is.
1 - An
2 - active
3 - citizen
4 - takes
5 - action
6 - to make
7 - positive change.