Teach Primary Issue 18.2

Keeping the world fair and truthful is a topic children get excited about, and so is learning about how the world works. Yet how do children know what is truthful? How do they know the difference between a fact and an opinion? With a general election due in 2024, and the role of the press and social media under the microscope, now is a great time to start educating our future voters about the structure of their government and how the press holds it to account. Don’t worry if this sounds a lot to know about – everything you and your pupils will need is in the lesson download ( tinyurl/tp-FreePress ). Throughout this lesson you’ll need to refer to the examples and explanations given in the accompanying slideshow ( tinyurl/tp-FreePress ). 1| TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND BIAS Introduce the idea of transparency and how truth and accountability are needed to keep democracies functioning. Discuss the need for truth, transparency and accountability in the classroom. Introduce the concept of the free press and explain its importance in a democracy. Frame how a working free press helps to inform people, holds the government accountable, and protects freedom of speech. Examine the role of media outlets as ‘watchdogs’ that are there to keep an eye on elected leaders and ensure they are doing what was promised in elections. This is where you can discuss recent examples of where the press has uncovered misconduct, such as Partygate or the mass sackings at P&O Ferries. Now explain that the free press does not always provide us with neutral or unbiased reporting. Talk about how different news outlets may have different perspectives or slants on the same issue. Without explanation of their possible political bias, allow time for children to read the news articles from the BBC, Independent and Daily Mail on the banning of plastic straws. Ask children to explain START HERE MAIN LESSON WHAT THEY’LL LEARN l How democracies work l The three branches of government and what they do l Why we need a free press to hold government to account l What reporting bias is, and how to spot it PSHE Ask students, “What rules do we follow at school and home?”. Discuss how some people make rules and others ensure they are followed. Explain that countries also have rules. Briefly explain how democracies function, covering the three branches of government and what they do (executive, legislature, and judiciary). As an imperfect analogy, you could relate this to lunchtime rules: the headteacher proposes them; teachers shape them for their classes; MSAs apply the rules. Discuss the role that elections play in democracies and how free and fair elections should work. For brevity, we are not discussing monarchies and presidencies. Power to the people? How do democracies work? Why do we need a free and enquiring press? Get some help exploring these big questions with this thought-provoking lesson plan from Matthew Lane KS2 LESSON PLAN @MrMJLane www.theteachinglane.co.uk 78 | www.teachwire.net