A Level Edexcel Political Ideas Activity Packs

15 varied, pick-up-and-teach activities for each ideology, all directly matched to Edexcel’s scheme of work.

Every activity is flexible in length, making it easy to plan and use – whether that’s as a basis for the entire lesson, or as a recap of key issues.

Well written, well-resourced and well researched

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Peer Reviewer

Enhances students’ learning!

  • Develops understanding of the specification content, with one activity per hour of suggested teaching time
  • Students grasp the core ideas and principles before completing comparison tasks on the tensions within the ideology, and then tackling key thinkers!
  • ‘Follow-on’ activities challenge even your most able students – and test crucial AO2 and AO3 skills!
  • Essay questions and revision grids provide vital exam skills practice!

Interactive tasks designed to stretch and consolidate knowledge

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Peer Reviewer
Varied activities!
Timelines, matching exercises, essay writing, true or false, ‘Facebook’ profiles and manifesto writing, plus much more!

Fantastic teacher support too!

  • Overview grid with key activity information (including timings, group size and assessment objective coverage) makes for quick and easy planning!
  • Write-on student worksheets, with answers provided, ensure that minimal preparation is required!

I enjoyed using it to teach

I Philpott, Politics Teacher & Customer
Also available for: UK and USA

What do teachers say about this resource? (8443)

Useful as either a work booklet to aid student revision, or as starters and plenaries in the lesson... Engaging activities

C George, Head of Politics & Customer

My students liked it because it required them to be creative – it got them thinking. They particularly like the exercise where they had to make their own definitions using keywords. I enjoyed using it to teach, such as the ‘manifestos’ activity on different strands of nationalism... The activities are written in such a way that they can form the basis of a lesson or they can be done as extension activities in independent study time... It is focused on the requirements of the specification... It provides you with all the activities you need to teach nationalism effectively.

I Philpott, Politics Teacher & Customer

The essay practice question is in a very similar style to what we have seen in the Sample Assessment Materials so therefore well matched. The writer has clearly been well informed of what is expected from Edexcel for the Nationalism topic and ideology.

D Taborda, Teacher & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (9267)

An excellent variety of resources for what is an extremely difficult ideology to grasp ... The activities boil down the key expectations and build a variety of skill-facts into teachers' planning... Students can access all three assessment objectives through varied tasks - vital for the exams ... will keep the students engaged.

D Taborda, Teacher & Peer Reviewer

It has been linked well to the new specification and the key aspects of Multiculturalism that the specification demands are taught are all included in varying forms. It is enough to keep the students occupied and enthused by a difficult concept - the development of Multiculturalism over time... the educational value therefore is priceless as there are a great many options per activity as to how the students access the content. For me, this is the Multiculturalism unit planned in terms of activities – that’s how invaluable this resource is, and this is more so because we have never taught this ideology before... this is what I have come to expect from ZigZag.

D Taborda, Teacher & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (8392)

A vital resource for Conservatism and for breaking it down into manageable chunks. It is easy to follow and this in itself is half the battle, especially with students and first-time teachers... interactive tasks designed to stretch and consolidate knowledge... They can see the development of Conservatism in an accessible way rather than notes on a page... The author has clearly taken time to write a resource which they want to be enjoyed.

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Peer Reviewer

It is enough to keep the students occupied and enthused by a difficult concept - the development of Conservatism over time... Activity 6 is an excellent activity – similarities and differences between Libertarianism and neo-liberalism - a very good activity to get the students to think carefully about how ideologies both complement and oppose each other

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (8445)

This has been invaluable, specifically as we are new to the ideologies section of the specification – Excellent variety of resources written for Feminism ... I really like the activity 7+8 (placing definitions of feminism and ‘manifestos’) – they encourage the students to really focus the application of their knowledge... The essay practice is particularly useful – it gives an additional layer of questioning and tasks for students to accomplish... This is a difficult topic to teach but when resources are found which help to lower the level of difficulty it would be silly not to purchase the activity pack.

D Taborda, Politics Teacher & Customer

I really like the feminism mini-quizzes (activity 14) – this is brilliant for a starter/plenary or class quiz as a whole – very engaging. I can honestly say that I have nothing to improve – for me, this activity is ready to be sold today!

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (8393)

Effectively plans the Socialism topic in terms of lesson activities ... brilliant... brings Socialism to life – it makes it relevant especially when cross- referencing with the Labour Party and Corbyn to determine how Socialist Labour are... Its aim is to ensure that students fully understand how Socialism operates and the key tensions within. It isn’t wordy and is written carefully to support students... a great way of getting students engaged with Socialism.

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Customer

Well written, well-resourced and well researched by the author

D Taborda, Deputy Head & Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (8391)

A very valuable and interactive resource. The author clearly understands the key facets of liberalism and developed a number of varied and challenging tasks... It lends itself to more able, it also works well with very low-ability students, ie: timeline to give an overview and key definitions... buy it – to help with the difficult political ideas topics.

D Taborda, Politics Teacher & Customer

I like the resource. A great way to show students how the ideology of Liberalism developed over time with all the twists and turns that occurred. It can also lend itself well to group or pair work, class presentations or solo work. The essay practice is good and mirrors the style that we are likely to expect from Edexcel when the exam is taken in 2018.

D Taborda, Teacher & Peer Reviewer