Action cards democracy

This activity encourages young people to reflect on democratic culture and their role within it.
  • democracy
  • Croatian
  • Czech
  • Dutch
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Hungarian
  • Italian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Portuguese (Portugal)
  • Spanish
  • Ukrainian
  • voortgezet onderwijs
  • secondary education advanced
  • secondary vocational education

During this lesson, students use a set of six action cards to discuss what they themselves might do in their daily life to support and strengthen democracy. In this way they learn that democracy is more than simply having the right to vote — it is something that is actively practised and lived.

Duration
Max. 30 minuten
Price
free

Programme

This lesson starts with a short class exploration of various advantages and disadvantages of two opposing political systems: democracy and dictatorship. Then the action cards are introduced, followed by a discussion about how the cards relate to democratic culture. Working in groups, students discuss how each card connects to democracy and which of the actions shown on the cards they already take — or would like to take — in their own lives. The lesson concludes with a reflection on which of these actions would still be possible if they were living under a dictatorship.

Accessible

The action cards provide an accessible and concrete presentation of democratic culture and possible actions involved in it. Because young people are asked to connect the cards to their own daily lives, the discussions naturally adapt to the group’s level and social world.

Learning objectives
  • Students critically consider their personal role within democracy.
  • Students explore the role democracy plays in their daily life.
  • Students consider the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and compare these with dictatorship. They also reflect on what these political systems (would) mean for them.
  • Students exchange ideas for actions that support and/or sustain democratic culture.
  • Students reflect on the vulnerability of democratic constitutional states and the consequences for them should these democratic constitution states cease to exist, either entirely or in part.
Downloads

Download the Educator's Guide

Download the Action cards democracy


Multiple languages

This educational material is available in Brazilian Portuguese, Croatian, Czech, French, Hungarian, Italian, PolishPortuguese and Ukrainian.