The following article comes from Martin Ridley, Head of Citizenship at St Peter’s Catholic School, Bournemouth.
I’ve taught Citizenship for a long time now and I often find that children know very little about the ins and outs of democracy (and adults not much more). Trouble is, when we get a little further than its Greek origins: people (demos) and power (kratos) it can be hard to make lessons about voting systems interesting and engaging.
However, the worst action would be to allocate those lessons to dull PowerPoints and inactive learning, when there are brilliant and free resources already available that make planning easier. With the International Day of Democracy on Monday 15th September there’s never been a better opportunity to give power to the people.
Here are ten simple, classroom-ready ideas—each paired with a free resource—to help us all to teach democracy in a way that’s engaging, interactive, and relevant to students’ lives.
1. Run a Classroom Vote
The best exercises in democracy get students going on their ‘people power’ and even better if teachers can make it as real as possible. Try holding a class election on a light-hearted topic to get started (favourite school lunch, best sport, or top holiday destination) and use ballot papers, assign pupils to count votes and have an election official to roam around and announce the results.
When the excitement subsides, discuss fairness and the process involved and then move on to meaty topics such as ‘should we have 20 minutes outside as part of the lesson?’, ‘what should our Class Charter say?’ and ‘this year’s Class Targets and rewards’.
Resource links aimed at Primary-aged children: What is the UK Parliament? — ready-to-use slides and activities that explain Parliament, voting, and law-making.
2. Learn About Democracy Through Sport
An alternative way into what can be a dry subject is through sport. The British Council has a great resource on this, centred on women’s football and it’s a relatable way to discuss fairness, teamwork, and leadership. Use football as a metaphor for democratic values and global cooperation.
The Ewro2025 Classroom Resource Pack uses football to explore European identity and shared values and there’s a webinar on 3 October 2025 which explores the impressive impact of women’s football.
3. Use a Budget Game to Explore Tough Choices
One of the most powerful ways to understand democracy is to experience the difficult trade-offs governments face when making policy. Let your students step into the shoes of decision-makers through a classroom simulation. Individually or in groups, they can take on the challenge of running the UK economy, balancing social welfare with taxation, and deciding where public money should be spent. This brings abstract democratic processes down to earth and can spark lively discussions about fairness, priorities, and compromise.
FT Schools has “The Budget Game” and I used this with a high-performing student very recently. He enjoyed playing around with this country’s money and got to the point where he reduced the national debt and gave the local council enough money to “streamline frontline services”. Perhaps unlike some managers, he could even explain what that phrase meant in real life!
4. Analyse News Headlines
Democracy is much more than voting: taking part in society is critical. What shapes our understanding of society and what helps us to see our place in it is the media – and we can slip into unthinking media consumption all too easily. Start each day by looking at a few news headlines from different sources. Ask students to identify who is being represented, what perspective is being shared, and what questions they have. This simple activity encourages media literacy and critical thinking about information in a democratic society. The British Council’s Classroom Resources are an excellent start.
5. Debate news articles
Current events (awful as some are!) give us a way of exploring democracy in action. Use articles from trusted news sources, perhaps from a range of angles, to spark debate and critical thinking. Ask students to read the article, identify key arguments then hold a short debate: who is being represented? What different viewpoints emerge? How does media shape our understanding of democracy? Use this idea to build media literacy and FT Schools’ resource bank is a good place to start.
We stand on the shoulders of giants (but do you know who first wrote that notable quote in 1675? Answer at the end of this article!). Literature can be a powerful way to explore democratic themes. Choose stories that highlight justice, leadership, or activism, and use them as a springboard for discussion. The British Council’s Reading for Pleasure resource includes activities that encourage reflection and sharing across cultures.
6. Let Students Be “MP for a Week”
OK, it’s a bit unlikely a student will get to be an actual MP for a week but perhaps in a tutor time or for a series of lunchtimes they can try. Put your students in the shoes of a Member of Parliament and they’ll need to juggle constituency issues, make decisions and discover how democracy works day to day. Be an MP for a Week Online Game — free, interactive, and ideal for ages 11–16.
7. Examine Primary Sources
Bring a historical document into the classroom, like a copy of the Magna Carta (bonus points if you can discover a new version and please don’t cheat by taking one of the copies in Salisbury Cathedral or Lincoln Castle!) or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Have students read and discuss what these foundational texts mean and how they’ve influenced the democratic principles we have today. This helps students see the evolution of democracy over time.
UK Parliament Education Resources are here and here with an excellent exploration of the right to an education on UNESCO’s website.
8. Explore Global Citizenship
A global community can be hard to visualise, so introduce students to the democratic principles that connect different countries. Map where different leaders are from, using a theme such as G8 or the top ten from the Democracy Index and discuss how international agreements or treaties are made. This broadens a student’s understanding of democracy beyond their own country’s borders.
UNESCO’s Democracy and Global Citizenship resource bank has hundreds of publications, opportunities for participation and expert information on the World Programme for Human Rights education.
A global community can be hard to visualise, so introduce students to the democratic principles that connect different countries.
9. Simulate Law-Making in Class
Some students have a lot to say about the world and how much better they can make it, so give them a chance. Take students step by step through how a bill becomes law and let them draft a “class bill” (e.g. “Ban homework on Fridays”), debate it, and pass it through stages.
The resource How it Works: Parliament, Government, Democracy and You (16–18) is an eBook designed for older learners but it’s possible to take screengrabs of sections and use it your way.
10. Use Music to Explore Unity and Voice
And finally, music can unite people and express collective values (unless you’re my children commenting on my car playlist). Invite students to write or perform songs that reflect democratic ideals or respond to current events. Suno is an online AI music generator which takes ideas and delivers fully-formed songs in moments. The United by Music Education Pack, inspired by Eurovision, helps students collaborate and connect through music.
To conclude, teaching democracy doesn’t have to mean dry textbooks or abstract theory. With these ten ideas—and the free resources from the British Council and UK Parliament—you can make democratic values tangible, engaging, and memorable. Why not try one this week? Small steps, like holding a classroom vote or streaming a “Learn Live” session, can spark conversations that help students understand their role in society. As Sir Isaac Newton said in 1675, we stand on the shoulders of giants so we can probably see the way ahead quite clearly.
