Finding common ground: how can we reduce political polarisation?

Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, debate clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5/Grade 9-10 and Grade 11-12 political science.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks (UK):
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of Professor Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta. He is bridging political divides by encouraging people with different opinions to have respectful discussions.

• This resource also contains an interview with Jared and offers an insight into careers in political science.

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on Jared’s research and challenges them to have a respectful debate with people who have different opinions to them.

This resource was first published by Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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