Darfur is Dying - teaching humanitarian crises
Here's another blog post on using games and simulations to teach Global Politics - this one is a little old now, but the issues highlighted in the Darfur is Dying simulation continue to affect...
How feminism is changing
I've recently read Anne-Marie Slaughter's book Unfinished Business , and I was interested by her comments on how feminism means different things to different women and people from different...
Which is more shocking - Cameron resigning as MP or Mel and Sue leaving the Bake off?
Okay, so the title to this blog may be a little frivolous! I'll declare that I've rarely watched the Great British Bake Off so don't get what the fuss is about with the change in channel and...
The four leadership elections and Michel’s Iron Law of Oligarchy
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Michel argued that all organisations, regardless of how democratic they intend to be, will inevitably be controlled by the few. One of the many ways in which...
BBC simulation for teaching Climate Change in Global Politics
I thought it was worth highlighting this interactive simulation from the BBC - the Climate Change Challenge is a little old now (and the Beeb doesn't update the activity anymore) - but it's still a...
Can working together reduce polarisation of ideologies?
Here's a TED talk suitable for students taking the Ideologies option and the US Politics options at A2. Arthur Brooks suggests that 'working together' can reduce the "ghastly holy war of ideology"...
Using board games to teach Global Politics
I've just come across a series of blog posts from PAXsims that take a look at games you can use in the classroom when teaching Global Politics, particularly the theories and ideologies such as...
Does it matter if politicians don't know the 'important' facts?
You may have seen or heard of the argument that broke out between Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Emily Thornberry and Sky News interviewer Dermot Murnaghan this weekend. A Youtube clip can be...
UCAS Politics Guide
No doubt many colleagues will currently be helping Year 13s through the tricky process of applying to university. Hopefully my latest UCAS Politics Guide will save you lots of time and effort!
Should we temporarily move Parliament to Birmingham?
I know I've blogged about this issue before, but the full costs and proposals for repairing Westminster Palace are starting to emerge this week. The possible cost of refurbishment (due to leakages,...
Getting started on US Politics - red, blue or purple?
Here's another introductory activity you could use with new students of US politics. This lesson idea focuses on which parties dominate (if either!) in various US states.
Join our Politics Teacher group on Facebook
Teaching Politics can be a lonely business - often small departments, with busy teachers also teaching other subjects. When you need some advice, guidance or support, who can you turn to? Here's...
A introductory US politics homework task
It can be tricky knowing what to set for homework in the first few weeks of a new course. Here's a simple "comprehension" task. Ask students to read this article Downballot Blues from the latest...
Getting started on US politics - Great Presidential Speeches!
A great way of building some historical context and understanding for students of US government and politics is to build in some drama to your lessons. Here's a suggestion for encouraging students...
Getting started on UK politics- In the News Speed Dating
Here at tutor2u we love the speed-dating approach to student knowledge sharing. The introductory activity outlined below gives new AS politics students the chance to get to know one another, as...
Advice for Starting Out on Politics A Level
Last year I blogged the original post titled 'Advice from my Politics teacher to you' and I thought it would be rather appropriate to reblog it at the start of the academic year again! When I was...
Getting started on AS politics - PowerPoint games
This is the third blog post in the "Getting Started on AS Politics" mini series; this post includes links to a few PowerPoint games that you could use as part of your introductory Unit 1 teaching....
While you were away - Quick multi-choice quiz on the Political news stories over the summer
Here's a quick, 6 question multi-choice quiz about political news stories over the summer as a fun introduction to your new-term classes. The questions are on a Powerpoint file and meant to be...
Getting started on AS politics - who am I?
One of the first things that all new students of AS Politics need to know is that a huge proportion of the marks available in their AS exams are for knowledge about examples. So why not get them...
Getting started with US politics - Who Said What?
What a great year for studying US politics with a presidential election looming! A great way of engaging students from the word GO is to get them to closely examine some of the things said by the...