Ideas On Parliament Topic Work

[Cmitchell]

Hi Folks

I've got the task of planning about a week's worth of Home Learning Tasks on the Topic of Parliament for 7-11 year olds (KS2). Year's 3, 4, 5 and any remaining home schooled Year 6s will be doing this.
Ideally, I'm looking for tasks that are open ended or with levels of choice for pupils. Obviously printing will NOT be an option for many pupils at home. Plus I need to think about the ease of children accessing the tasks themselves with very minimal support from an adult. I know there are really good powerpoints (on here and Twinkl etc) and a few good explanatory videos about many aspects of Parliament, but is it the 'open ended tasks' /choice of challenge tasks which I am needing ideas on.
Suggested content is
1)How Parliament works
2)Houses of Parliament – difference between House of Commons and House of Lords
3)Voting/elections
4)Roles of the government
5)Local MP – who it is/what they do
6)Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament
7)European parliament
8)Brexit
If you could think of any ideas for any of these or anything else related that would be fabulous. A huge thank you in advance for all suggestions no matter what!

Kindest regards
Lindy Hop

[10ClarionSt]

This is for 7 - 11 year olds? It's not April 1st is it?

[fiction-factory]

10CS- the OP does say "choice of challenge tasks". I's the sort of challenge some will take (or parents will ensure it's done)- although maybe not years 3 and 4

[woofgang]

other ways of running countries.....what is good about our system and what is not....how did parliament begin....write a letter/email to your MP....why isn't the monarch the head of parliament.....what would you do if you were prime minister?

[10ClarionSt]

Nah. That's all secondary school stuff, more like year 10 and 11. Young children won't be interested in those topics. It's got to be a wind up.

[fiction-factory]

I think research skills are important. Is it any different to doing about The Tudors and the Stuarts - we did that at that age. I did a project on the Spanish Armada

[fiction-factory]

I would scale it back a bit though for KS2

[10ClarionSt]

Tudors and Stuarts is a History topic. Young children aren't interested in parliament or the politics of it. The suggestions from woofgang are the ideas of an adult. If this is on the curriculum, it's a poor choice in my opinion and I guess someone will wonder why the input from the children is so poor.

[zebo]

Saying these topics are only suitable for Years 10 and 11 does younger children a great disservice, my grandson, aged 8, is currently looking into WW1, especially its causes, he's fascinated by it.
Knowing how an election works, the differences between the Commons and Lords, local MPs/MEPs seem quite suitable.

[woofgang]

10cs, they would have to be the ideas of an adult because I am not a child! We were asked for suggestions and even if mine are no good, they might trigger something useful.

[fiction-factory]

It probably comes under Citizenship which is part of the National Curriculum for Key Stage 2. I'm not sure why you feel it's any less relevant than 400 year old History, 10CS.
I think you may have done more than you can remember when you were that age

[Cmitchell]

Not a wind up. This is what I've been asked to plan. It is part of a larger topic (from now to the end of term) It will build to form 'What makes Great Britain Great?' Other parts of this topic are British Isles, Monarchy, Patron Saints, Keeping me safe-British Military, just to name some areas.
Open ended ideas are what I'm looking for. I have a few but any additional suggestions would be great. It could involve making something, writing something, designing something etc.
As I say thank you in advance for the ideas.
Mitchell

[albaqwerty]

don't forget about Guy Fawkes and his pals.

[jno]

what makes Great Britain Great? There might be a module on question-begging waiting to be taught there! One or two of those elements sound like what kids would be taught in North Korea.

I think woofgang's suggestions sound good, particularly on how you can make use of Parliament yourself, and maybe how you could become an MP.

[10ClarionSt]

Great Britain is great because the name distinguishes it from a smaller area of Brittany in France. As far as I know, that was the original reason naming it Great Britain. And to take the ssip out of Eddie Waring.