Preview

Justice in a Democracy

What is inequality and social justice?

Watch the video about justice. Afterwards, discuss these questions in class:

Why is not always fair if everyone always gets the same?
What are the two sides of discrimination?
Have you witnessed or experienced discrimination yourself?

Justice in a democracy

Max

Hi Max! Did you hear about the class rep election results?

14:10

Yes, Arsema! I'm so mad about it.

14:12

Me too! Lucy got the most votes, but Mr. Smith declared Thomas the winner. It's so unfair!

14:13

Exactly! What's the point of voting if the teacher just picks whoever he wants?

14:14

It goes against democracy! Votes should matter. It's like saying our opinions don't count.

14:15

I know, right? We all chose Lucy because we believe in her, not because Mr. Smith thinks Thomas would be better.

14:16

This isn't fair to Lucy either. She worked hard for those votes. It's like her effort was for nothing.

14:17

Totally. And it's a bad example for us. How will we trust the system if it's not fair?

14:18

We should talk to Mr. Smith and tell him how we feel. Maybe he doesn't realize he's teaching us the wrong lesson.

14:19

Good idea. We need to stand up for what's right. Fair elections are a big part of democracy.

14:20

Yes! Democracy is about everyone's voice being heard, not just one person's decision.

14:21

Let's gather our classmates and explain our concerns to Mr. Smith. We need to make sure this doesn't happen again.

14:22

Agreed. We have to do this together. It's about fairness and justice for everyone.

14:23

Absolutely. Let's meet after school to plan what we want to say.

14:24

Sounds good! See you later, Max.

14:25

See you, Arsema!

14:26

Read the chat between Arsema and Max. Then discuss in class: Why do they both find it so unfair that Nina didn't win? If Thomas would really be a better class representative, shouldn't he be allowed to get the position, even if he didn't receive the most votes? What do you think?

Justice in a democracy

Probably you think it's unfair that Lucy didn't win the election because she was elected in a democratic manner. Watch the following video to learn more about the nature of democracy and democratic elections.

For each sentence, choose if it's true or false.

Role play - election for mayor

Now you can take part in a democratic process yourselves. Four of you will receive the role cards listed below and present yourselves to the class in your assigned role. Give a short speech explaining to the class why you should be elected. Afterwards, the rest of the class will vote democratically.

Michael Thompson

• Age: 45 • Occupation: Business Consultant • Political Experience: City Council Member for 8 years • Important Subjects: Family Policies, Traffic Management, Economic Development • Important Character Traits: Good - Strategic Thinker, Empathetic; Bad - Stubborn

Sophia Martinez

• Age: 32 • Occupation: Environmental Scientist • Political Experience: Chair of the Local Environmental Committee • Important Subjects: Environmental Protection, Green Energy, Public Health • Important Character Traits: Good - Passionate, Detail-Oriented; Bad - Overzealous

James Carter

• Age: 58 • Occupation: Retired Architect • Political Experience: Member of the Planning Commission for 10 years • Important Subjects: Urban Development, Affordable Housing, Community Services • Important Character Traits: Good - Experienced, Community-Focused; Bad - Resistant to Change

Emily Nguyen

• Age: 29 • Occupation: Tech Entrepreneur • Political Experience: Advisor for Smart City Projects • Important Subjects: Technology Integration, Education, Innovation • Important Character Traits: Good - Innovative, Tech-Savvy; Bad - Inexperienced

Personalize the worksheet

Enter the name of a position that is eligible for election.

Justice in a Democracy

With the help of this worksheet, your students will think about the term "justice" and how it can be applied within a democracy. In the end, they will conduct a democratic election with a role play.

Personalize the worksheet

Enter the name of a position that is eligible for election.

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Sample solutions to all exercises.

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