Hold a committee: Classroom instructions should speak to from a variety of viewpoints? – Step one five minutes – How will they research the topic fairly to make Introduce the topic by asking students what sure they have a rounded view of the issues? they would do if they were given a large group project to do together (i.e. Split up the Ask each group to fill out the worksheet using work, undertake research, speak to experts Research where necessary. etc.) Explain that the House of Lords splits its work by forming groups called committees Step four thirty minutes – that investigate particular subjects to give Explain the group will now run an advice to the government on specific topics. evidence session. Divide each group in half one half will role – Step two five minutes – play the parts of different witnesses, the other Divide the students into groups and ask them half to imagine that they are members of a Will act as the committee. committee The committee must prepare questions for their Of the House of Lords. Explain that they are witnesses, while the witnesses need to think going to explore the topic future of the ‘the about the viewpoint of their characters. E.g. Are House of Lords’. they for or against reform? What expertise and knowledge do they bring to this discussion? Step three thirty minutes – Ask students to identify the key issues involved and the people most affected, and to Explore other topics using this activity think about the impact on the country as a You can effectively explore the role of whole. E.g. How does an unelected house fit committees within a wider context by within modern democracy? Would there be a running this activity with different topics – cost of running elections for the house? for example crime, transport or health. If Would elections impact on the sorts of people you want to base this work on a real select interested in joining the house? Ask the committee for the House of Lords, visit students how they can find out more about the The parliament website for information. subject and how their committee is going to You can also extend the activity by examine the issue. E.g. what allowing the groups to choose their own Organisations would their committee need to topic by researching topical issues using hear from to learn more about the issue? Are newspapers and the internet. there any individuals that the committee 4
Hold a committee: Classroom instructions Step one – five minutes Introduce the topic by asking students what they would do if they were given a large group project to do together (i.e. Split up the work, undertake research, speak to experts etc.) Explain that the House of Lords splits its work by forming groups called committees that investigate particular subjects to give advice to the government on specific topics. Step two – five minutes Divide the students into groups and ask them to imagine that they are members of a committee Of the House of Lords. Explain that they are going to explore the topic ‘the future of the House of Lords’. Step three – thirty minutes Ask students to identify the key issues involved and the people most affected, and to think about the impact on the country as a whole. E.g. How does an unelected house fit within modern democracy? Would there be a cost of running elections for the house? Would elections impact on the sorts of people interested in joining the house? Ask the students how they can find out more about the subject and how their committee is going to examine the issue. E.g. what Organisations would their committee need to hear from to learn more about the issue? Are there any individuals that the committee should speak to – from a variety of viewpoints? How will they research the topic fairly to make sure they have a rounded view of the issues? Ask each group to fill out the worksheet using Research where necessary. Step four – thirty minutes Explain the group will now run an evidence session. Divide each group in half – one half will role play the parts of different witnesses, the other half Will act as the committee. The committee must prepare questions for their witnesses, while the witnesses need to think about the viewpoint of their characters. E.g. Are they for or against reform? What expertise and knowledge do they bring to this discussion? Explore other topics using this activity You can effectively explore the role of committees within a wider context by running this activity with different topics – for example crime, transport or health. If you want to base this work on a real select committee for the House of Lords, visit The parliament website for information. You can also extend the activity by allowing the groups to choose their own topic by researching topical issues using newspapers and the internet. 4
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