- Give the children some background information about Parliament, drawing comparisons with decision-making in the class or school. This could cover the following points:
- every area in the country sends a representative to Parliament (a Member of Parliament or MP)
- MPs belong to a political party
- before an election, each political party publishes what they stand for in a manifesto
- an election is held about every five years for the people to vote for the party they want in government
- the leader of the party that wins an election becomes the Prime Minister
- changing the law is an important part of the work of Parliament
- changes are debated and discussed in Parliament before being agreed, as they are in class or school councils
- Using scenarios or stories, explore a law that affects children, eg legal ages at which children can open a National Savings account (7), own a pet (12), vote in an election (18). Through class discussion, explore why the law is needed. What might happen without the law? Is it fair to everyone?
- Hold a simple parliamentary-style debate, focusing on a legal issue of interest to children or relating to the laws explored in the previous activity. Invite your local MP or a councillor to the debate. The children could prepare questions, eg about the work of Parliament in changing the law. If no one is available, it may be possible to send questions by letter or e-mail.
- Extension activity: The children could find out more about the Houses of Parliament, perhaps using the Explore Parliament website, and look up the name of their MP. Show them a video clip of a parliamentary debate or Prime Minister's Question Time, and ask them to describe what they saw.
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- know that there is a process by which laws are made, involving discussion, debate and voting by MPs in Parliament
- understand that rules and laws are designed to protect us
- express personal and group views on social issues and listen to the views of others
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