The Rax Active Citizenship Toolkit

Teaching tools for change in the classroom

$49.90Ref: 2828Available now

Features
Commendations

'I eagerly opened the pages and was immediately taken aback by the dynamism of the layout - never before seen in a school book. A fascinating and compelling read with a huge range of practical actions.' Des Kay, amazon.com
210 x 262 mm, paperback
208 pages
Ages 14+

At each turn there are numerous examples and students are encouraged to look for creative ways to present their views for maximum effect. I can pay the The Rax Active Citizenship Toolkit no greater compliment than to say that it made me want to try out its material in a classroom … The verdict 10/10

Times Educational Supplement Magazine - 27 August, 2010

The material in these lessons allowed us to discuss issues that are very important to us but which we never get to talk about. Your eye can travel across the page and you end up finding out really interesting facts which inspire you and make the stuff you are learning much more real. I want all the text books to be like this.

Ayesha, Year 11

I have never seen a textbook like this in my life and it is absolutely brilliant!

Dr Tony Breslin, Chief Executive of the Citizenship Foundation and OFSTED inspector, UK

This is a truly unique resource. It's full of inspiring ideas, presented in an engaging way, which will help students develop the skills and conviction to affect real change in their communities. This is what citizenship education is all about.

Pete Pattisson, National Subject Lead for Citizenship, UK

Aimed at 14-16 year olds, the Rax Citizenship Toolkit is a brilliant resource designed to accompany students through the key processes of Citizenship Studies. It gives teachers and students the tools for:

- Critical thinking and enquiry: questioning, researching, reflecting and evaluating

- Advocacy and representation: speaking up for an issue that you think is important

- Taking informed and responsible action: creating successful active citizenship campaigns

Through the use of games and activities, all presented in visually stimulating design, students will improve their confidence and social skills and make meaningful and effective practical work.

Most citizenship material is predictable and prescriptive, making students feel they are being dictated to about the issues they should be concerned by. The toolkit takes a different approach, using a graphic style that engages with students on their level, and facilitating the development of all the tools students need to form their own opinions about the issues they care about most. Avoiding the all-to-common prescriptive and condescending approach to teaching the subject, it encourages and empowers students to change what they think is wrong in society.

Students will also learn what it means NOT to be an active citizen - or a citizen active only in the games console world populated by zombie raiders and bomb-carrying elves governed by aliens with acid for blood...

Published by New Internationalist, and written by Jamie Kelsey-Fry, a secondary school teacher, writer, filmmaker and singer/songwriter in a string of obscure experimental bands and Anita Dhillon, an accomplished graphic artist in the film industry credited on a number of films including The Bourne Ultimatum, Sunshine, The Wolfman and Never Let Me Go .

You can find a comprehensive review of the book on the Times Educational Supplement website.