Want to see students arrive to your lessons with a smile? Start off September by pre-empting the question [Understanding Citizenship] What's Citizenship got to do with me? Students will recognise that Citizenship knowledge is the toolkit for young adulthood and eat out of your hands! Make the most of this with resources relevant to their age group:

• [The media and public opinion] Celebrity voices. Is young people's fascination with celebrities changing modern Britain?
• [Dealing with conflict] Strategies for handling young people's conflicts. Can your young citizens assert themselves when faced with society's hurdles?
• [Legal rights and responsibilities] Consumer rights and responsibilities. Teenagers can spend money, but do they know their consumer rights?
• [Identities and cohesion] The Facebook generation. Are online communities more relevant to your classes than actual neighbourhoods?
• [The legal system] Young people and the law. Why do certain youngsters turn to crime and what can be done about it?

For the new term's rising stars, encourage learning beyond the classroom. Invite their feedback in forums such as open evenings and governors' meetings. Active citizenship has no limits:

• [Dealing with conflict] Why should we have a school council?. Whose turn is it this year to make a huge difference to their peers?
• [Meeting community needs] Improving our school. Card-sorting and cartoon creation will get your students thinking as team.
• [Systems of government] Youth Parliament. Is there a future Prime Minister at your school?
• [Understanding Citizenship] Impact of collective actions. The sky will be the limit once your students start thinking about the power of Twitter campaigns.