Unit 1 Lesson 3: Democracy vs. Dictatorship | Y8 Systems

Ngā Mahi - Lesson Activities (75 minutes)

1. The Power Spectrum (20 mins)

Activity: Draw a long line on the board. Label one end "Power to the People (Democracy)" and the other "Power to the Leader (Dictatorship)."

Teacher-led Discussion: Introduce key concepts and have students place them on the spectrum:

Free & Fair Elections
One-Party Rule
Freedom of Speech
Censorship
Human Rights Protections
Rule by a Monarch (King/Queen)
Military Coup

2. Case Study Analysis (35 mins)

Group Work: In small groups, students receive a case study of a specific country (e.g., modern New Zealand, North Korea, ancient Rome, a traditional iwi). They use the "Power Spectrum" concepts to analyze their assigned country and prepare to present their findings.

Case Study Prompts:

Who holds power in this society? How did they get it?
What rights and freedoms do the people have?
How are decisions made?
Based on your analysis, where does this country belong on the Power Spectrum?

Differentiation:

Support: Provide a graphic organizer with the prompt questions for each group to fill out.
Extension: Ask students to find a modern news story that reflects the system of government in their case study.

3. Group Presentations & Class Discussion (20 mins)

Each group briefly presents their case study findings. The teacher facilitates a discussion comparing the different systems.

Aromatawai - Assessment & Next Steps

Formative Assessment

Can students accurately place concepts on the Power Spectrum?
Does their case study analysis show understanding of the core features of their assigned system?
Do they participate thoughtfully in the class discussion?

Homework & Extension

Research a country not discussed in class and place it on the Power Spectrum.
Write a short story from the perspective of someone living in a dictatorship.

Whakaaro - Reflection

The way a society organizes power has a massive impact on people's lives. While democracy is often messy and slow, it is built on the idea that every person has value and a voice. Authoritarian systems promise efficiency and order, but often at the cost of freedom and human rights. As we move forward, we will explore how New Zealand's unique system of government tries to balance these competing values.