Topic: Civic engagement

Author: Anna Rabiega

Addressee:

8th‑grade primary school student.

Core curriculum:

IX. Participation of citizens in public life – civil society.

The student:

2) presents the objectives and forms of activities of non‑governmental organizations active in the local community and region; shows that this type of activity leads to the fulfillment of various needs.

The general aim of education:

The student demonstrates the necessity to cooperate in social life.

Learning outcomes:

The student:

• presents ways he can get involved as a citizen to change the reality around him.

• explains why volunteering is important and beneficial.

• organizes voluntary work for himself or a group of friends to solve a problem in their neighbourhood.

• explains the difference between a foundation and an association.

• names a couple of non‑governmental organizations functioning in Poland and describes their achievements.

Key competences:

• communicating in a foreign language,

• digital competence,

• learning to learn,

• social and civic competences,

• sense of initiative and entrepreneurship.

Teaching methods:

• discussion,

• brainstorming,

• teaching conversation using schemes, interactive exercises.

Forms of work:

• self‑learning,

• whole‑class activity.

Material & equipment needed:

• computers with loudspeakers/headphones and internet access,

• multimedia resources from the e‑textbook,

• interactive whiteboard/blackboard, felt‑tip pen/a piece of chalk.

Lesson plan overview (Process):

Introduction:

1. The teacher presents the goal of the lesson: You will find out how to become involved in voluntary work, which will enable you to have an impact on the reality around you.

2. The teacher asks the students, what are the ways a person could get involved in changing his/her closest environment. He informs the students that they will work using the brainstorming method and explain it if necessary. He appoints a facilitator, who writes the students’ suggestions on the board (voluntary work, engagement in associations, foundations, donating to charity, etc.). He sets up the time to complete the task.

Implementation:

1. The teacher divides the class into as many groups as many suggestions are on the board and assign each of the groups with a type of citizen involvement. He asks the students to define, what each of the types consists of. After completing the task the groups leaders present the results of the group work, and the rest of the class, together with the teacher supplement the information if necessary.

2. Then the students do exercise 1. They have to fill in the definitions of the terms “foundation” and “association”. They discuss their solutions with the teacher. Additionally, the teacher asks willing/selected students to indicate the differences between the two forms of citizen involvement.

3. The teacher asks the students to familiarize themselves with the contents of the scheme “Social worker’s guide” from the abstract “Civic engagement”, which presents certain advice for young socially active people. He initiates a discussion on which of the suggestions are most important in the students’ opinion and why, and if they would add anything to the guide.

4. The teacher asks the students, if they can see in their nearest environment any problems that could be solved with civic engagement. Willing students give examples of these problems and write them on the board. Then the teacher asks the students to decide, which type of civic engagement would be most suitable in each case and why.

Summary:

1. The teacher asks a willing student to summarize the lesson from his point of view. He asks other students if they would like to add anything to their colleague's statements.

2. Homework proposal:

a. Give an example of a problem, which you can have a positive impact on through civic engagement. Include the description of the problem, the type of your involvement and what it achieves in your answer.

b. Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Then do the vocabulary exercise at the end of the chapter.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Civic engagement

What can you do if you do not like something in your surroundings? Like your favourite lake being all full of trash, your neighbour’s children having trouble at school or the school’s fence looking really ugly? You can either be frustrated and complain, or try to do something about it, and change the reality around you. It will not always work out, but it is always worth trying!

Civic engagement or civic participation can be defined as citizens working together to make a change or difference in their community. Their actions can be both of political, and non‑political nature. The most important thing is the goal – to address public concerns and promote the quality of life of the community. There are many forms of civic engagement. Two most common non‑political ones are volunteerism and organizational involvement.

Volunteering is an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain to benefit another person, group or organization. You do not have to be rich, you do not have to be over 18 years old. You have to be willing to help, responsible, empathetic. Look around you, there is always somebody you could help – maybe an older neighbour that has trouble shopping on her own or a friend struggling with a certain subject at school?

It is worth mentioning, that volunteering has benefits for the volunteer himself – it helps him develop skills, gain experience, make contacts, become responsible, etc. Read the social worker’s guide and start acting!

There are two types of non‑governmental organizations (NGOs) in Poland: foundations and associations. Look up more information about these organizations, find some examples and do the exercise.