This article looks at the leaders’ TV debates from the 2019 general election. Students will learn about what a general election is, how the voting works, and how our Government is formed.
They will find out what the key issues in this debate were, namely Brexit and the NHS, and what the two parties had to say on these issues.
But they will also look into why other parties like the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party were not invited to be there, and whether those parties’ views should have been heard too.
This PDF resource includes this article, as well as accompanying activity ideas:
- Discuss whether voting in a general election should be forced by law, or whether everything should be a choice
- Imagine you were standing for election. What would you want to change about our country. Make a list of your top five promises, giving persuasive reasons for each
- Write a (pretend) letter to your local MP (member of parliament) saying whether you think children should get the vote. Make sure you explain your reasons clearly and respectfully
- Who is your local MP? Create a fact file about the person who represents your area, including which political party they belong to and any interesting issues they seem to be particularly passionate about.
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download here.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to schools.theweekjunior.co.uk.