Active Citizenship and the Democratic State · 2nd Year

Active learning ideas

Our School Leaders: Who Helps Our School?

Active learning helps students grasp the subtleties of constitutional roles by moving beyond abstract definitions. When they debate, investigate, and discuss, they see how symbolic leadership interacts with real-world governance. This makes the separation between Head of State and Head of Government tangible and memorable.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Myself and the Wider World - Community
• NCCA: Primary - Myself and the Wider World - Rules and Laws

• 20–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Formal Debate
• 35 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: The Referral Power

Students debate whether the President should have more power to block laws they disagree with. This helps them distinguish between personal opinion and constitutional duty.

Who are the leaders in our school?

Facilitation Tip

During the Structured Debate, assign roles clearly to ensure every student contributes to both sides of the argument on the President’s referral power.

What to look for

Present students with three scenarios: a new school rule being proposed, a need for a school event, and a student conflict. Ask them to write down which leader or group (principal, teachers, student council) would be most involved in addressing each scenario and why.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Inquiry Circle
• 45 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Presidential Symbols

In small groups, students research past Presidents and create a digital poster showing how they used their 'soft power' to represent Ireland on the world stage.

What jobs do our school leaders do to help us?

What to look for

Facilitate a class discussion using these questions: 'What is one job the principal does that helps you directly?' 'How does the student council help make our school a better place?' 'What is one thing you can do this week to help your teachers or the principal?'

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Guardian Role

Students are given a hypothetical law that might be unconstitutional. They must discuss in pairs whether the President should sign it or send it to the Supreme Court, justifying their choice.

How can we help our school leaders?

What to look for

On a slip of paper, have students write the name of one school leader and one specific action that leader takes to help the school. Then, ask them to write one idea for how they can help the school community.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic by anchoring abstract concepts in familiar contexts. Start with school leadership roles before introducing national figures, then slowly reveal the complexities of the presidency. Avoid overloading students with constitutional clauses; instead, use case studies that show the President’s actions in action. Research shows that students retain more when they see how symbolic roles influence daily life.

Students will confidently describe the President’s role as guardian of the Constitution and distinguish it from the Taoiseach’s political leadership. They will connect these roles to their own school community by identifying leaders and their specific responsibilities.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Collaborative Investigation, watch for students who assume the President leads the government.

  Use the Venn diagram template to guide students in comparing the President’s non-political role with the Taoiseach’s executive power, ensuring they note the absence of policy-making authority.

• During the Think-Pair-Share activity, students may think the President can create laws.

  Model the bill-signing process with a simple example, highlighting that the President’s role is to verify constitutionality, not draft or propose laws.

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Methods used in this brief

• Formal Debate
• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share