Being British

Name __________________________

Tutorial Programme
 Upper IV
Tutorial Programme

Topic Student Comment

1&2 Being British

3 Tolerance

4 The Commonwealth

5 Democracy

6 This session has been left for your own discussions with your
tutor
 Tutorial 1 & 2
What does it mean to be British ? Have a look at the images below. Do they represent Britain ?
Discuss with your tutor.

What other images would you like to see ?

Pause for thought : Ask yourself these questions

Can I identify how you can become British?

Can I describe some rights and responsibilities of British Citizens?

Can I explain some British Values?

Are you a true citizen ? The government has introduced The British Citizenship Test for people
hoping to become British Citizens. Some of the questions are printed below. Have a go

1.Which landmark is a prehistoric monument which still stands in the English

county of Wiltshire?

1. Stonehenge
2. Hadrians Wall
3. Offas Dyke
4. Fountains Abbey

2.What is the name of the admiral who died in a sea battle in 1805 and has a
monument in Trafalgar Square, London?

5. Cook
6. Drake
7. Nelson
8. Raleigh

3.In 1801, a new version of the official flag of the United Kingdom was created.
What is it often called?

9. British standard
10. Royal banner
11. St George cross
12. Union jack

4.Who is the patron saint of Scotland?

13. St Andrew
14. St David
15. St George
16. St Patrick
 5.What flower is traditionally worn by people on Remembrance Day?

17. Poppy
18. Lily
19. Daffodil
20. Iris

2. 6.Which of these sporting events was hosted in London in 2012?

1. Commonwealth Games
2. Cricket World Cup
3. European Football Championship
4. Paralympic Games

3. 7.At her jubilee in 2012, how many years as queen did Queen Elizabeth II
celebrate?

1. 25
2. 40
3. 50
4. 60

4. 8.The second largest party in the House of Commons is usually known by

what name?

1. Senate
2. Opposition
3. Lords
4. The other side

5. 9.From what age can you be asked to serve on a jury?

1. 16
2. 18
3. 21
4. 25

6. 10.What is the title given to the person who chairs the debates in the House
of Commons?

1. Chairman
2. Speaker
3. Leader of the House
4. Prime minister
How do people become British?

By birth ?

By Descent ? (Their parents were British)

By Registration (legal connection with the UK)

By Naturalisation (applying to be)

Have a look at the table below. This is based upon the last census which we had in Britain. What does it tell
you about the population of Britain ?

White 54.9 million 93.2 %

Asian or Asian British 2.3 4%

Black or Black British 1.2 2%

Chinese .2 0.4%

Other Ethnic Groups 0.2 0.4%

What Rights and Responsibilities do you have as a British Citizen ?

Rights Responsibilities

Rights Responsibilities
Passport Paying Taxes

Live in the UK Jury Service

Claim Benefits Obeying the Law

Work Completing a census form every 10 years

Vote in Elections Register for elections

Match the key words to the definitions

Democracy Respecting others

Freedom Everyone must follow the law and be treated equally under it

Tolerance People elect leaders and have a say in how country is run

Diversity Government cant interfere too much with our lives

Rule of Law People of different races, religions, gender, sexuality, ability

Does Britain really hold these values ?

State what values Britain has and what they mean

What evidence you have to show we have these values

What evidence you have to show we dont always have these values
 Tutorial 3

Sometimes we see in our society evidence of prejudice and discrimination. (Make sure you know
what these mean). Most of this is very subtle and can go un noticed unless it is pointed out. They
can be in the form of stereotypes (judging a group of people without knowing about them). Have a
look at these images and see if you can identify the prejudice that is displayed in each.
Most people in Britain would argue that we have fought hard in this country to be tolerant of all
people regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Why do you think people are
prejudiced or discriminate against others. Discuss in your group and record your answers
below.

Examples of struggles against prejudice that you may know of. Can you think of any others ?
Discuss with your tutor.

Martin Luther King was an African-American living in 1950s

segregated America. His work includes the famous I have a
dream speech and the Montgomery bus boycott

Suffragettes were members of

womens suffrage (right to vote)
movements in the late 19th and 20th
century, particularly in the UK and
USA. Activists in Britain in the early 20 th century demonstrated by chaining themselves to
railings and setting fire to mailbox contents. One woman, Emily Davison, died while trying to
throw a suffrage banner over the Kings horse at the Epsom Derby. Many suffragettes were
imprisoned n London, and were force-fed after going on hunger strike.
This is what a very famous poet said about being British. Read what he has to say and then read his
poem. Discuss what he has to say with your tutor.

The more I travel, the more I love Britain, and it is because I love the place
that I fight for my rights here. It is probably one of the only places that
could take an angry, illiterate, uneducated, ex-hustler, rebellious Rastafarian
and give him the opportunity to represent his country.

A Recipe for the British

Benjamin Zephaniah

Take some Picts, Celts and Silures

And let them settle,
Then overrun them with Roman conquerors.
Remove the Romans after approximately 400 years
Add lots of Norman French to some
Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, then stir vigorously.

Mix some hot Chileans, cool Jamaicans, Dominicans,

Trinidadians and Bajans with some Ethiopians, Chinese,
Vietnamese and Sudanese.
Then take a blend of Somalians, Sri Lankans, Nigerians
And Pakistanis,
Combine with some Guyanese
And turn up the heat.
Sprinkle some fresh Indians, Malaysians, Bosnians,
Iraqis and Bangladeshis together with some
Afghans, Spanish, Turkish, Kurdish, Japanese
And Palestinians
Then add to the melting pot.
Leave the ingredients to simmer.
As they mix and blend allow their languages to flourish
Binding them together with English.
Allow time to be cool.
Add some unity, understanding, and respect for the future,
Serve with justice
And enjoy.
Note: All the ingredients are equally important. Treating one ingredient better
than another will leave a bitter unpleasant taste.

Warning: An unequal spread of justice will damage the people and cause pain.
Give justice and equality to all.
 Tutorial 4

Please watch the following clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QL_uG2GSZo

Danny Boyle was given the task to orchestrate an opening ceremony for the
British Olympics. What was he celebrating about being British?

What countries make up Britain ?

Can you name their capitals ?

Britain also belongs to another group of countries called the British

commonwealth. This is made up of countries that used to belong to
the British Empire and although they won their independence, they
still kept alliances with Britain and have several goal in common.

These are the countries below.

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of

independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire.

It was once known as the British Commonwealth of Nations or British Commonwealth, and some
still call it by that name, either for historical reasons or to distinguish it from the other
commonwealths around the world, such as the Commonwealth of Australia and the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas.

Queen Elizabeth II, who is called the Head of State of 16 Commonwealth Realms, is the Head of the
Commonwealth; this title, however, does not imply any political power over member nations, and
does not automatically belong to the British monarch.

The Commonwealth is primarily an organisation in which countries with diverse economic

backgrounds have an opportunity for close and equal interaction. The primary activities of the
Commonwealth are designed to create an atmosphere of economic co-operation between member
nations, as well as the promotion of democracy, human rights, and good governance in those
nations.

The Commonwealth is not a political union of any sort, and does not allow the United Kingdom to
exercise any power over the affairs of the organizations other members. While some nations of the
Commonwealth, known as Commonwealth Realms, recognize the same person who is the British
Monarch as their separate head of state, the majority do not.
The commonwealth is a family of 54 Nations spread over every continent and ocean in the world.
Although the people of the commonwealth are different in many ways they work together by
sharing ideas, experiences, skills and knowledge.

Aims of the commonwealth

The Commonwealth has programmes for training and education, sharing technology and scientific
understanding and improving peoples living conditions.

The Commonwealth emphasises equality, trust and understanding.

Democracy, the rule of law and good governance. Sometimes countries are suspended (or
excluded) from the Commonwealth by not standing by these declarations.

It works to improve the lives of Commonwealth people. It does so in such areas as education,
housing, clean water and health.

Key Facts
The Commonwealth is made from 53 independent countries.

The Head of the Commonwealth is HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Headquarters are at Marlborough House in London.

1.7 billion people in the Commonwealth (29.8% of the worlds population).

About half of this population are less than 25 years old.

 The member with the biggest population is India (one billion) and the smallest are Nauru and
Tuvalu in the Pacific ocean (11,000 people each).

The richest are Australia, Canada, Singapore and the UK.

Some of the poorest are Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

Commonwealth countries work together to make their economies stronger, to improve their
systems of government and to improve the skills of their people.

Take the Quiz

10) How many of the worlds people are part of the Commonwealth?

10%

20%

30%

2) When is the Commonwealth ruled by Britain?

Always

Never

Every other Tuesday (alternates with Ghana)

3) Half of all the people in the Commonwealth are under 25.

True

False

4) To get into the Commonwealth a country has to have once been part of the British empire.

True

False

5) How important a member of the Commonwealth is the USA?

The most important as they have a big army

The second most important after Britain

They are not in it

6) When the Commonwealth wants to make a decision how do they do it?

 Britain decides, everyone else goes along with it

Reach an agreement

Toss a coin, best of three

7) Countries are thrown out of the Commonwealth if:

They break its rules

They win no medals 3 times in a row

You cant be thrown out

8) There is a Commonwealth country in every continent in the world?

True

False

9) To be in the Commonwealth you must have the Queens head on your?

Stamps

Coins

Passports

You dont have to have it anywhere

10) How many people in Britain have got relatives in other Commonwealth countries like India,
Jamaica and Australia?

60%

25%

15%

Tutorial 5 Democracy
In Britain we are very proud of our democracy. You may have learned in history how women
struggled to gain the vote after the first world war. In the UK you are entitled to vote from the age of
18. You may vote in General (whole nation), local (your local area) and European elections. You
would also have a vote on any referendums to do with individual issues such as membership to the
European Union.

How you should vote.

It is important that you know the issues which each political party represents. Many politicians will
make speeches either on the news or in parliament about the issues which effect our nation. The
main issues are defence, welfare, the NHS and education. Listen to the three political parties below
and decide who you would vote for. When you have decided discuss with your group why you have
made your choice.

The Unicorn Party

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cByU5d3UBCM

The Phoenix Party

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXOh_P4cuM

The Cenataur Party

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcv5j1JTM9Y

Summarise what each of the Parties want to achieve and how they will do it in the grid below

Unicorn Phoenix Cenataur

Now its time for you to vote. Write down your decision and then discuss the reasons for your
choice with your tutor.
 Put a cross in the box of the party you have
chosen

Unicorn

Phoenix

Cenataur

Very often people will vote for a political party because they have been influenced by the politics of
their parents. Do you think that this is a good way to decide how to vote ? Discuss with your tutor.