Schemes of work: Citizenship at key stage 3

Citizenship at key stage 3 through geography at key stage 3

This leaflet provides a starting point for schools to discuss the links between citizenship at key stage 3 and geography.

Schools need to decide which opportunities to develop as explicit citizenship provision. This leaflet maps the areas where the two ­programmes of study are compatible. It also suggests some opportunities for teaching citizenship through geography, referring where appropriate to relevant units in the geography scheme of work. Unit 10 'Debating a global issue' and unit 18 'Developing your school grounds' in the citizenship scheme of work illustrate this. The Teacher's guide for geography (page 15) in the geography scheme of work outlines the contribution that geography can make to citizenship. Appendix 9 on page 35 also summarises the possible links between geography scheme of work units and citizenship.

Promoting citizenship at key stage 3 through geography

Geography contributes to citizenship by enabling pupils to:

• understand how decisions are made about places and environments across a range of scales (local to global) and appreciate opportunities for their own involvement;
• reflect on and discuss topical social, environmental, economic and political issues;
• understand the diversity of cultures and identities in the UK and the wider world;
• understand the issues and challenges of global interdependence;
• reflect on the consequences of their own actions in situations concerning places and environments;
• understand their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment.