2. Using Your Votes OBJECTIVES: To assess the importance of democratic participation in the light of rising political apathy

3. Starter What is ‘apathy’( Clue is in the picture) ?

4. Examine the picture: why might some young people display political apathy? Consider why, not voting, may be destructive.

5. General elections explained http://www.parliament.uk/education/teachin g-resources-lesson-plans/the-general- election-explained/ http://www.parliament.uk/education/teachin g-resources-lesson-plans/the-general- election-explained/

6. Manifesto Election Go to the web link below, then on website -click on ‘choose an issue’, ‘then update’, then scroll down to view each party’s manifestoes. Get Tutor Group to compare the different manifestoes of the parties and discuss who they would vote for base on the manifesto. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifes to-guide

7. Main: Complete the exercise in work sheet: Using your vote. Which of the following ideas might be successful in increasing a young person’s desire to vote in an election: New ways of voting- postal votes: voting on-line; voting using text message Putting polling booths in places other than schools on election day, for example, in shopping centres Making voting compulsory, as it is in Belgium and Australia Having more democracy in school- if young people got use to having a say and voting about the things that affect them, then perhaps they would participate more in local and national politics. Making UK politics a compulsory subject in schools. Extension activity: Complete worksheet- Democratic or not? Answer: A,E,F,H,I,J