Unit 1 Lesson 6: How to Make Your Voice Heard | Y8 Systems

Ngā Mahi - Lesson Activities (75 minutes)

1. Case Study: "The Skate Park Campaign" (20 mins)

Shared Reading: As a class, read the "The Skate Park Campaign" case study about a group of young people who successfully campaigned for a new skate park.

Think-Pair-Share:

Think: What was the first and most important step the students took?
Pair: Discuss with a partner: Why was their campaign successful?
Share: As a class, map the key steps they took from identifying the problem to achieving their goal.

2. The Community Action Toolkit (30 mins)

Teacher-led discussion: Introduce a "toolkit" of different ways to make your voice heard. Discuss the pros and cons of each method.

Tool 1: Petitions

A formal request signed by many people. Shows widespread support.

Tool 2: Submissions

A formal written document presented to a council or committee. Requires research and clear arguments.

Tool 3: Protests & Marches

A public demonstration to raise awareness. Visually powerful but can be ignored.

Tool 4: Social Media

Using platforms to raise awareness and organize support quickly. Can spread misinformation if not careful.

3. Plan Your Campaign (25 mins)

Group Task: In groups, students choose a small, realistic issue within the school (e.g., "We want a better recycling system," "We want more seating areas outside"). They create a simple campaign plan.

Campaign Plan Template:

Our Goal: What is the one specific thing we want to change?
Our Target: Who has the power to make this change? (e.g., the Principal, the Board of Trustees)
Our Tools: Which tools from the toolkit will we use and why? (Choose two).
Our First Step: What is the very first thing we will do?

Differentiation:

Support: Provide a list of pre-approved school issues to choose from.
Extension: Ask students to write the first paragraph of their submission or design the first post for their social media campaign.

Aromatawai - Assessment & Next Steps

Formative Assessment

Can students identify the key steps in the case study?
Do they understand the purpose of the different tools in the toolkit?
Is their campaign plan logical and realistic?

Homework & Extension

Research a successful youth-led campaign in New Zealand (e.g., School Strike 4 Climate).
Take the first step of their campaign plan (with teacher permission).

Whakaaro - Reflection

Understanding how systems work is important. But understanding how to *change* those systems is true power. Your voice, when combined with a clear goal, a smart plan, and the support of your community, can make a real difference. You are not just a citizen of the future; you are a citizen right now, with the power to shape the world around you.