Edexcel - Politics: UK Constitution. Key Words Activity
Comprehensive list of key terms and phrases for the UK Constitution Unit.
Students to use Pearson textbook to find the definitions of each key term. (Edexcel GCE Politics AS and A-level Student Book and eBook: (Edexcel GCE Politics 2017)
Constitutional Reform since 1997: what difference has it made?
To be able to consider why constitutional reforms take place.
To explain what reforms have taken place since 1997.
To make synoptic links between constitutional reform and previous learning.
Outline:
Starter Activity
Tutor2U Video
Teacher Talk
Research Task
Information Poster Activity
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
Edexcel UK Government and Politics for AS/A Level Fifth Edition 2017 - Neil McNaughton
UK Government and Politics for AS/A-level (Fifth Edition) - Editor Eric Magee
Edexcel GCE Politics AS and A-level Student Book and eBook: (Edexcel GCE Politics 2017) - Pearson
The lesson requires pages from this textbook, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
The Constitutional framework of the US branches of government
To understand the key features of the Constitutional framework of the US branches of government.
Outline:
Starter Activity
Teacher Talk/Information
Matching Articles of the Constitution Activity
Diagram Activity
Links to videos
Summary plenary
Links to Crash Course Politics videos - useful for the course, but not my own content.
An Introduction to US Government & Politics
To understand the requirements of the USA course.
To understand the foundations of the US Constitution.
Lesson Outline:
Specification overview
Key Words
Comprehension Activity
Link to video
Homework Activity & Question sheet
This lesson references material from the following resource:
American Politics: A Beginner’s Guide - Jon Roper
(The homework task refers to this resource)
What is a Constitution and how has it developed over time?
To understand what is meant by the term Constitution.
To examine how the Constitution has changed over time.
Outline:
Textbooks referred to on the course
Overview of spec etc.
Key Terms & Starter
Pirate Activity - Tutor2U
Marketplace Activity & Grid
Plenary Questions
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
Edexcel UK Government and Politics for AS/A Level Fifth Edition 2017 - Neil McNaughton
UK Government and Politics for AS/A-level (Fifth Edition) - Editor Eric Magee
This lesson can be taught without these textbooks.
What makes up the UK Constitution?
To be able to confidently use key words like codified, entrenched and unitary.
To be able to understand the nature of the UK Constitution.
To be able to use examples to support the 5 main sources of the UK Constitution.
Outline:
Starter
Teacher talk
Reading & Research Task
Tutor2U Video
True/False plenary
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
Edexcel UK Government and Politics for AS/A Level Fifth Edition 2017 - Neil McNaughton
The lessons requires pages from this textbook, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
To what extent has Devolution been a success?
To assess the difference made by devolution on UK government.
To examine whether devolution has met its aims.
To reach a judgement about further devolution in the UK.
Outline:
Key Words
Starter Activity
Card Sort
Comprehension Activity
Conclusion Plenary
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
UK Government and Politics for AS/A-level (Fifth Edition) - Editor Eric Magee
UK Politics Annual Update 2020 - Nick Gallop
If the UK is uncodified, what are the main sources of its Constitution?
To be able to identify the main sources of the UK Constitution.
To be able to examine the twin pillars of the UK Constitution.
Outline:
Starter Activity
Textbook Reading
Card sort & Worksheet
Independent Research Task
True/False Plenary
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
Edexcel GCE Politics AS and A-level Student Book and eBook: (Edexcel GCE Politics 2017) - Referred to as Pearson 1 in the PowerPoint.
The lessons requires pages from this textbook, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
Key features of the US Constitution: Checks and Balances
To be able to explain one of the key features of the US Constitution.
To be able to assess the effectiveness of the system of checks and balances.
Outline:
Discussion Starter
Teacher Talk/Information
Sorting Activity
Comprehension Task
Research Task
Summary Plenary
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
US Government and Politics for A-level Fifth Edition – Anthony J Bennett (Editor Eric Magee)
Pearson Edexcel A level Politics (2019) - Jenkins, Tuck & Jefferies (Referred to as Pearson 2 in the PowerPoint)
Homework Task refers to:
US Government & Politics Annual Update 2018 – Anthony J Bennett
What roles do Bipartisanship and Limited Government have in upholding the US Constitution?
To understand the principles of Bipartisanship and Limited Government.
To apply these principles to contemporary government.
To assess how effective the US Constitution is today.
Outline:
Key Words
Starter Activity
Questioning Prompts
Worksheet/Information
Card Sort/Spectrum
Debate Activity
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
US Government and Politics for A-level Fifth Edition – Anthony J Bennett (Editor Eric Magee)
The lesson requires pages from this textbook, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
The homework activity requires this resource:
US Politics Annual Update 2019 – Anthony J Bennett
How convincing is the case for a codified UK constitution?
To be able to recall our knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages to codification.
To be able to analyse the arguments for and against codification.
To make a judgement about whether the UK should become a codified constitution.
Outline:
Starter Activity
Case Study Analysis
Textbook Reading
Colour Code Activities
Source Practice
This lesson references material from the following resources:
Pearson Edexcel A level Politics (2019) - Jenkins, Tuck & Jefferies (Referred to as Pearson 2 in the PowerPoint)
Edexcel UK Government and Politics for AS/A Level Fifth Edition 2017 - Neil McNaughton
UK Government & Politics Annual Update 2018 - Neil McNaughton
Note: Source Practice Activity is taken from an external party.
How strong is the US Constitution?
To use our knowledge to assess how strong the US Constitution is.
To examine the limitations of the US Constitution.
To consider the impact of the US Constitution on the US Government today.
Lesson Outline:
Key Words
Link to video clip
Discussion prompts
Colour Code Activity
Research Task
Reading Activity
Debate
Challenge Tasks
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
Edexcel GCE Politics AS and A-level Student Book (Edexcel GCE Politics 2017) – Pearson (Referred to as Pearson 1 on PowerPoint)
Pearson Edexcel A level Politics (2019) - Jenkins, Tuck & Jefferies (Referred to as Pearson 2 in the PowerPoint)
The lesson requires pages from these textbooks, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
The lesson also refers to an Article from Politics Review Magazine from 2018.
A Level Politics Taster Session for KS4, suitable for Year 10 or Year 11.
Looking at the key question: To what extent has the handling of COVID-19 undermined democracy in the UK?
Lesson Objectives:
To understand the ways in which democracy can be undermined in politics.
To examine how the handling of the pandemic might have impacted democracy in the UK.
To assess whether the UK Government acted legitimately in their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Includes;
Key Words
Boris Johnson Speech
Activity looking at Boris Johnson quotes
Questions
Definitions
Key Terms
Card Sort
Comprehension questions
Challenge tasks
Spectrum Task
A Level Politics Taster Session for KS4, suitable for Year 10 or Year 11.
Looking at the key question: Who is most responsible for protecting race rights in the USA?
Lesson Objectives:
To identify the ways in which race rights are protected in the USA.
To assess how effectively rights are protected in the USA.
To make a judgement about who bears the greatest responsibility for rights protection in the USA.
Includes;
Key Words
3 x Case Studies (Trayvon Martin, Jacob Blake, George Floyd)
Card Sort
Comprehension questions
Challenge tasks
Activities on extracts from the US Constitution
Responsibilities spectrum
Has devolution achieved its aims of constitutional modernisation?
To examine the powers of devolved bodies.
To assess the advantages and disadvantages of devolution.
To consider the extent to which further devolution could take place in England.
Outline:
Starter Activity
Key Words
Teacher Talk and Key Questions
Card Sort & Worksheet
Textbook Reading
Conclusion plenary
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
UK Government and Politics for AS/A-level (Fifth Edition) - Editor Eric Magee
Pearson Edexcel A level Politics (2019) - Jenkins, Tuck & Jefferies (Referred to as Pearson 2 in the PowerPoint)
The lesson requires pages from this textbook, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
To what extent is there democracy within the US Constitution?
To be able to identify elements of democracy within the US Constitution.
To be able to evaluate ways in which the Constitution upholds and undermines principles of democracy.
Lesson Outline:
Key Words
Discussion starter
Discussion prompts
Card Sort
Grid
Research Task
Conclusion Plenary
Challenge Activities
This lesson references material from the following textbooks:
Edexcel GCE Politics AS and A-level Student Book (Edexcel GCE Politics 2017) – Pearson (Referred to as Pearson 1 on PowerPoint)
US Government and Politics for A-level Fifth Edition – Anthony J Bennett (Editor Eric Magee)
The lesson requires pages from these textbooks, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
The nature and origin of the US Constitution
To understand how the US Constitution was formed.
To understand the nature and vagueness of the US Constitution.
To assess the implication of the nature and vagueness of the US Constitution on US Politics.
Lesson Outline:
Starter Activity
Comprehension Activity
Worksheet
Sorting Activity
This lesson references material from the following resources:
US Government and Politics for A-level Fifth Edition – Anthony J Bennett (Editor Eric Magee)
Edexcel GCE Politics AS and A-level Student Book (Edexcel GCE Politics 2017) – Pearson (Referred to as Pearson 1 on PowerPoint)
US Government and Politics (Politics Study Guides) – William Storey
To what extent does Federalism ‘assure constitutional rights’?
To understand how Federalism is depicted in the US Constitution.
To examine the differences between federal and state power.
To examine how federalism has developed over time.
Outline:
Key Words
Starter Activity
Discussion prompts
Link to video - not my resource
Venn Diagram Activity
Plenary Discussion
This lesson references material from the following textbook:
US Government and Politics for A-level Fifth Edition – Anthony J Bennett (Editor Eric Magee)
The lesson requires pages from this textbook, but similar information could be found elsewhere or in updated Politics textbooks.
The homework activity (reading & questions to answer) comes from this resource:
US Government and Politics (Politics Study Guides) – William Storey
(Purchasing this book is a worthy investment, especially to challenge your upper ability students)