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CSPE Resources

Check out our new Video section

What Do You Say? (2010)
A new range of materials for CSPE from the Ombudsman's Office, and is downloadable from the website: www.oco.ie . A limited number of printed copies is also available. Contact oco@oco.ie or ring (01) 8656800 . Topics include "Having a Voice", "Family Care", "Wealth and Material Deprivation", "Young People and Education". The pack comes with a set of posters, suggested activities and ideas for Action Projects. From the introduction: "The purpose of this resource is to make young people more aware of children's rights and to highlight how they apply to them in their everyday lives. The materials also highlight the role and work of the Ombudsman for Children's Office".
Impact! 5th Edition (2010)
CSPE Textbook by Jeanne Barrett and Fiona Richardson, taking into account all recent major social and political changes, Up-to-date case studies and topics including: - Cyber-bullying - Climate change - Human Rights and Children’s Rights - The Ombudsman for Children - Micro-credit for the poor - Aids orphans - Your Rights in Law Comprehensive • including guides to Action Projects and Skills, Core Concepts of the CSPE course, current issues and topics, how to complete a Report on an Action project (RAP). Online testing for homework and revision will be available for this textbook on the new eTest.ie website. Gill & Macmillan Publication.
Stand Up, Speak Up! (2010)
Stand Up, Speak Up is written by Hugh Holmes and Gearóidín O'Dwyer, and comes with a "CSPE Activity Book". The text is organised in accorance with the 7 Concepts of CSPE. There are case studies, glossaries of terms in English and Irish, Exam Practice exercises and a section on assessment. It is published by Mentor.
One World, Second Edition (2010)
This revised text is written by Deirdre Murphy and Jim Ryan, and published by the Educational Company. It comes with a free workbook, Each section focuses on one of the the 7 Key Concepts of CSPE. Exam-type questions are included and an entire section is dedicated to assessment. There are online resources and backup at edcodigital.ie
Focus Ireland Resource:
The module is titled "Without Your Home Your Life Develops Differently", and is a practical teaching tool for Civic Social & Political Education (CSPE) classes to help inform students about homelessness and housing need in Ireland. The free learning resource aims to help breakdown stereotypes about people who are homeless and also support efforts to prevent young people who may be at risk of becoming homeless. Focus Ireland's education programme is supported by essential funding from City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB). Contact Lucinda McNally - Communications Officer Focus Ireland. Ph: 01 881 5964 or Roughan Mac Namara - Advocacy Manager Focus Ireland. Ph: 01 8815 900. CSPE teachers can also order the module from Focus Ireland’s Research Officer, Sinead McGinley at 01 8815900 or by emailing smcginley@focusireland.ie.

ThinkB4UClick
This is a Resource for CSPE that aims to empower students to be effective, autonomous and safe users of new media. The various activities, including surveys, comic strip, reflections and Action Project ideas deal with issues such as privacy online and legal issues relating to use of new media. Included is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Webwise Charter of Online Rights of the Child. The resource can be downloaded from here, either in full or section by section. ThinkB4UClick is jointly published by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the National Centre for Technology in Education.

Pictureogs
Pictureogs: Engaging and Exploring Irish Traveller Culture , a free DVD from the Kildare County Library Service - an 18 min visual representation of stories, songs and textile works by Travellers from Athy. It is part of the library's Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion Programme. The video, insegmented form is also available to view on the library's website.
CSPE Fact Sheet
The NCCA has recently developed a set of fact sheets, which give information about the different subjects available in junior cycle. While the fact sheets have been designed with sixth class pupils and first year students in mind, they will also be useful for parents. The fact sheets answer questions about each subject such as: what will I learn in this subject, how will I learn this subject, how will I be examined in this subject. They can be used by first year tutors and guidance counsellors in post-primary schools, and by teachers of senior classes in primary schools. They will also be useful for school information evenings and open days. The CSPE Factsheet is here: The general list of factsheets is here.
Know Your City Council
The ‘Knowing Dublin’ guide is designed to be used by Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) teachers across the City to help young people get to grips with what the Council does for them and how they can engage with their city. It was researched and written by public library staff. Students outside Dublin will also find useful information on local government. The ‘Knowing Dublin’ guide, in both English and Irish, is available from the Central Library, Ilac Centre, Dublin 1. Each Dublin City branch library has a reference and a lending copy. The resource can also be downloaded from here.
The Trocaire Campaign for 2009 centres on Internally Displaced Persons and extensive materials were sent to schools, tailored to different aspects of the curriculum. The resources are extensive and include a photo pack. They are available from Trocaire or can be downloaded free from here.
What in the World?
This new DVD was sent to schools by the CSPE Support Service - What in the World - Coffee Matters in Gautamala, is about fair trade issues, and is presented by Rodney Rice

The 6 Steps - A Guide to Action Projects, is a new DVD on Action Projects for CSPE. The CSPE Action Project is broken into six steps which are followed in the DVD. For more information contact National Co-ordinator Conor Harrison (01-6102805) or the Citizenship Education Administrator Vicky Geraghty (01-4020422). The DVD has was given out at inservice in 07/08 and sent to schools Spring 2008.

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The President of Ireland: Role and Functions
This is a new DVD (2008) the title of which explains it all. It is an educational resource produced by the Office of the President with advice from the Department of Education and Science. It is bilingual and comes with a CD-Rom of teachers' notes. It was sent to schools in early 2008.
CitizeNews, formerly CSPE News, is the newsletter of the Civic, Social and Political Education Support Service. Each edition contains accounts of action projects from various schools, an outline of the Support Service, a guide to resources, a CSPE Noticeboard and all the latest CSPE news. It is sent directly to schools.
New CSPE Resource on Data Protection and Privacy! The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, in conjunction with the Curriculum Development Unit of the Dept of Education and Science, has developed a resource for the CSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education) programme for Junior Certificate Students. The resource is called 'Sign Up, Log In, Opt Out: Protecting your Privacy & Controlling your Data' and deals with 2 of the core concepts of CSPE; 'Rights & Responsibilities' and 'Law'. The resource will raise awareness amongst young people of their rights to privacy, the importance of taking control of their personal information, the rights they have when it comes to how their personal information may be collected or used and also how they may access their personal information. The resource was distributed to all secondary schools nationwide (07/08) and is also available to download from www.dataprotection.ie/teens
Exploring Refugee Issues is a new resource sent to schools by Comhlámh. It is for students 13 and over, and is produced by the A Part of Ireland Now Project, in conjunction with Know Racism, Ireland Aid and Trócaire. There is a variety of classroom activities, worksheets that can be photocopied, with a glossary of terms and a teacher’s guide. Further copies are available for €5 each from Comhlámh at 10 Upper Camden St Dublin 2—01-4783490 (ask for Jennifer).
Education For All -- a CSPE Resource Pack from the Irish Coalition for the Global Campaign for Education. There are plenty of class plans, games, case studies, action projects and a teacher's guide. It is promoted by the teacher unions and was sent to schools.
Every Child Has A Right to a Childhood - The Trócaire Lenten Campaign for 2006 focussed on children's rights. A comprehensive pack was sent to schools, containing a CD-Rom (including ready made Powerpoint presentations), and a booklet of resources specifically aimed at CSPE. There are games, case studies, posters, action projects.
CSPE Starter Pack - CD Rom , with all the basic CSPE documents - The Syllabus, The Revised Teacher Guidelines, a slide show for induction inservice, past examination papers, Blank RAPs and CWABs and more. A must have!
Vote - Exploring Democracy, Equality, Participation and Elections is a resource pack for CSPE published by the Gender Equality Unit of the Dept of Education and Science and the City of Dublin VEC Curriculum Development Unit, and written by Deirdre Phelan. There are teachers' notes, Ideas and plans for Action Projects (such as Mock Election), profiles of female politicians, worksheets and more. The pack is accompanied by a CD Rom. Copies were sent to schools in late October 2005.
What Next for the European Union? - This is a video/DVD (2005) on the future of the EU. It is presented by Ray Darcy, with Sinéad Ni Loideain and Danann Breathneach for the National Forum on Europe. It was sent to all schools in late October 2005.
Making a Difference - A new resource from the National Youth Development Education Programme, 3 Montague St Dublin 2. (01-4784122) It has a wider application than CSPE, and features a variety of activities related to citizenship and youth participation. There is also a separate Teachers' Guide.
The new Guidelines for Teachers of CSPE arrived in schools late September 2005. There is Course Content, sample lessons, Active Learning Methodologies, Action Project Ideas, a guide to useful resources assessment and more. Each school got a number of copies.
The Plain English Guide to Citizenship Terms has been published by the National Adult Literacy Agency. It contains explanations to around 400 citizenship terms. It wasn't designed for CSPE but it should be of great benefit nevertheless. And it's available free from the Agency, and can be downloaded free from www.nala.ie Alternatively email literacy"at"nala.ie or ring 01-8554332.
Second Level Student Councils in Ireland: A Study of Enablers, Barriers and Supports is a research report by The Children's Research Centre, Trinity College, on behalf of The National Children's Office, and runs to 138 pages. It is an invaluable resource for schools, and particularly relevant for CSPE classes using the Student Council elections as an Action Project. For an example of the Student Council election as an Action Project see our Action Projects section or click here.

 

CSPE Textbooks
One World, Second Edition (2010)
This revised text is written by Deirdre Murphy and Jim Ryan, and published by the Educational Company. It comes with a free workbook, Each section focuses on one of the the 7 Key Concepts of CSPE. Exam-type questions are included and an entire section is dedicated to assessment. There are online resources and backup at edcodigital.ie
Impact! 5th Edition (2010)
CSPE Textbook by Jeanne Barrett and Fiona Richardson, taking into account all recent major social and political changes, Up-to-date case studies and topics including: - Cyber-bullying - Climate change - Human Rights and Children’s Rights - The Ombudsman for Children - Micro-credit for the poor - Aids orphans - Your Rights in Law Comprehensive • including guides to Action Projects and Skills, Core Concepts of the CSPE course, current issues and topics, how to complete a Report on an Action project (RAP). Online testing for homework and revision will be available for this textbook on the new eTest.ie website. Gill & Macmillan Publication.
Stand Up, Speak Up! (2010)
Stand Up, Speak Up is written by Hugh Holmes and Gearóidín O'Dwyer, and comes with a "CSPE Activity Book". The text is organised in accorance with the 7 Concepts of CSPE. There are case studies, glossaries of terms in English and Irish, Exam Practice exercises and a section on assessment. It is published by Mentor.
Taking Action Now
(2009) CSPE text from CJ Fallon is divided into 25 chapters, which are grouped under the seven course concepts: Rights and Responsibilities; Stewardship; Human Dignity; Development; Democracy; Law and Interdependence. All chapters have an abundance of questions, as well as ideas for activities and actions. Resource banks, at the end of each chapter, provide students with opportunities to search for further information. Case studies throughout provide students with real-life examples. Includes guidelines on how to prepare action projects and course-work assessments.
Make a Difference! This is the latest edition (2007) of Folens' CSPE Textbook. As before it comes with a students' workbook and Teacher's Manual. It is written by Conor Harrison and Mairin Wilson. (New edition due Sept 2011).
We Are the World is a CSPE text from Mentor Books, written by Cormac Cassidy and Paul Kingston, and is now in its second edition. There is plenty of stimulus material, both text and pictures, ideas for Action Projects, a sample exam paper and a useful glossary of terms.
Newsletters
CitizeNews, formerly CSPE News, is the newsletter of the Civic, Social and Political Education Support Service. Each edition contains accounts of action projects from various schools, an outline of the Support Service, a guide to resources, a CSPE Noticeboard and all the latest CSPE news. It is sent directly to schools. For more info contact the CSPE Support Service. Contact details here.
In.Tuition – Is a weekly four page full-colour supplement produced exclusively for CSPE students by the Irish Independent. Every edition will relate to one or more of the 7 CSPE core concepts, while also relating topical news items to these core concepts. In.Tuition plays a key role in preparing students for the CSPE exam. Issues towards the end of the year provide revision resources geared specifically towards the CSPE exam paper. To order please contact, Arlene Regan, Independent Newspapers, Ph: 01 7055813
Theme Packs
Counted Out - Challenging Poverty and Social Exclusion by Sandra Gowran is a new resource useful for CSPE. A complimentary copy has been delivered to schools by representatives of Folens publishers who are involved in the production of this resource. t has information, games, worksheets, photos and class plans. It is jointly produced by Folens, CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit (01-4535487) and the Combat Poverty Agency (01-6706746).
Changing Perspectives: A Resource for CSPE on issues of cultural values, diversity and equality in Ireland and the wider world. It is produced by the City of Dubllin VEC Curriculum Development Unit and The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism. There are a variety of worksheets and activities.
Video/DVD
Bóthar: A video on the work of Bóthar, a group invovled in development aid. This video was sent to schools in the school year 2003/2004.
Know Racism: Video sent to schools as part of the Know Racism Campaign. See the campaign's website for more details.
Reference
80: 20 - Development in an Unequal World* - 5th edition - is an updated version of a popular resource dealing with the inequalities in the world. It is described as a comprehenive introduction to development, justice and human rights issues. There is plenty of well presented information suitable for research. It is available from 80:20 Educating & Acting for a Better World, St. Cronans BNS, Vevay Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. ph: 01-2860487. Cost is 25 Euro + Post and Packing.