Nigel Farage's election success means there's a new political party to explore in the classroom. Here we pull together the best news stories and teaching resources to explore in schools
The UK Independence party (Ukip) has gone from being a single issue joke to the fourth – or even third – party in British politics after last week's local elections, in which they won a quarter of the vote where they had candidates.
So your students certainly need to know what Ukip is and what it represents, not to mention the impact its success is having on Tory party policy on Europe and immigration which we can start to analyse after the Queen's speech. We've tracked down the best news stories, teaching resources, multimedia and websites to help you explore the phenomenon that is Ukip and its leader Nigel Farage in the classroom.
**From the Guardian**
Local elections 2013: Friday 3 May as it happened
Catch up on all the news from the recent local elections, where Ukip took a large share of the vote.
How Tories need to work hard to win back supporters from Ukip
Labour describes the results of the English county elections, where Ukip gained more than 130 seats and polled 25% of the national vote, as 'Cameron's worst nightmare'. So how is the Tory leader going to fight back and what will this mean for British politics?
Queen's speech Ed Miliband accuses David Cameron of joining Ukip 'circus'
The Labour leader mocks David Cameron for attempting to out-Farage Nigel Farage. How much more of this do your students think we are going to see?
Farage calls for a EU referendum 'before the next election' - video
Ukip leader on David Cameron's decision not to hold an EU referendum until after the next election in which he also insists his party are not just eurosceptics.
Ukip stats don't add up - statistical analysis
Ukip promises lower tax and more spending for all but the Guardian's data editor James Ball show that the figures don't work out when you take a closer look. Lots of great stats here to crunch through.
Nigel Farage - or how to succeed in politics without really trying
"Many people who hate Nigel Farage the reactionary throwback find themselves liking Nigel Farage the chortling oaf" says columnist and TV celeb Charlie Brooker. This take on the issue is a great talking point for sixth formers. Only 8% of Ukip voters are under 35 – why do your students think that is?
Five things people get wrong about Ukip
Think Ukip voters are obsessed with Europe and only hurt the Tories? Time to lay some misconceptions to rest.
Ukip on the march - cartoon
Guardian cartoonist Chris Riddell on why there's nothing funny about Farage. Great inspiration for your students to get busy creating their own political cartoons.
Nigel Farage: how one man changed British politics
Find out more about Ukip's leader in this interview of the UK's newest political celebrity.
**On the Guardian Teacher Network**
Dramatic rise of Ukip shakes up politics - The Day
An article from schools news service The Day specially written for schools which explains how a radical anti-EU party is disrupting traditional party politics in the UK and terrifying the Conservative leadership - great activities too.
How the EU works
Leaving the EU is one of Ukip's core policies, may barely know what it is. This will help your class understand what the EU does.
The EU in slides
Another great resource for exploring Ukip's ideas on leaving the European Union.
Should the UK hold a referendum of leaving the EU?
This excellent topic guide from Debating Matters gives a succinct intro to complex issues with extensive further readings for those who want more. Much needed info for any debate on Ukip.
Politics for beginners
This is one of the most popular resources on the Guardian Teacher Network - lack of basic knowledge about politics will stifle any discussion around political parties such as Ukip. This document does a great job of filling in the gaps.
**The best of the web**
Ukip's official site
Find out all about what Ukip describes as "common sense" politics and view Nigel Farage's party political broadcast.
Fear and hope report
What do people from the UK think about identity and race? The Searchlight Education Trust polled 5,054 respondents and produced one of the largest and surveys into attitude, identity and extremism in the UK to date.
The Tory Diary
A couple of interesting blogs on the Conservative party official blog site. Can Boris Johnson take on Nigel Farage and is a Ukip/Tory pact on the cards? Lib Dems watch out!
The Labour take: listen to the pragmatic majority on immigration
Good stats here on the Labour party official blog, 61% of people favour a managed immigration policy and only 18% want and end to it. So maybe it's not time for the mainstream to tether itself to Ukip or the BNP quite yet. What do your students think?
The BBC on the Queen's speech: immigrants face tougher rules
How much of an impact is Ukip going to have on mainstream politics after election success? A fresh attempt to curb immigration is the centrepiece of the government's planned new laws, set out by the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament.
*This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Looking for your next role? Take a look at Guardian jobs for schools for thousands of the latest teaching, leadership and support jobs.* Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
The UK Independence party (Ukip) has gone from being a single issue joke to the fourth – or even third – party in British politics after last week's local elections, in which they won a quarter of the vote where they had candidates.
So your students certainly need to know what Ukip is and what it represents, not to mention the impact its success is having on Tory party policy on Europe and immigration which we can start to analyse after the Queen's speech. We've tracked down the best news stories, teaching resources, multimedia and websites to help you explore the phenomenon that is Ukip and its leader Nigel Farage in the classroom.
**From the Guardian**
Local elections 2013: Friday 3 May as it happened
Catch up on all the news from the recent local elections, where Ukip took a large share of the vote.
How Tories need to work hard to win back supporters from Ukip
Labour describes the results of the English county elections, where Ukip gained more than 130 seats and polled 25% of the national vote, as 'Cameron's worst nightmare'. So how is the Tory leader going to fight back and what will this mean for British politics?
Queen's speech Ed Miliband accuses David Cameron of joining Ukip 'circus'
The Labour leader mocks David Cameron for attempting to out-Farage Nigel Farage. How much more of this do your students think we are going to see?
Farage calls for a EU referendum 'before the next election' - video
Ukip leader on David Cameron's decision not to hold an EU referendum until after the next election in which he also insists his party are not just eurosceptics.
Ukip stats don't add up - statistical analysis
Ukip promises lower tax and more spending for all but the Guardian's data editor James Ball show that the figures don't work out when you take a closer look. Lots of great stats here to crunch through.
Nigel Farage - or how to succeed in politics without really trying
"Many people who hate Nigel Farage the reactionary throwback find themselves liking Nigel Farage the chortling oaf" says columnist and TV celeb Charlie Brooker. This take on the issue is a great talking point for sixth formers. Only 8% of Ukip voters are under 35 – why do your students think that is?
Five things people get wrong about Ukip
Think Ukip voters are obsessed with Europe and only hurt the Tories? Time to lay some misconceptions to rest.
Ukip on the march - cartoon
Guardian cartoonist Chris Riddell on why there's nothing funny about Farage. Great inspiration for your students to get busy creating their own political cartoons.
Nigel Farage: how one man changed British politics
Find out more about Ukip's leader in this interview of the UK's newest political celebrity.
**On the Guardian Teacher Network**
Dramatic rise of Ukip shakes up politics - The Day
An article from schools news service The Day specially written for schools which explains how a radical anti-EU party is disrupting traditional party politics in the UK and terrifying the Conservative leadership - great activities too.
How the EU works
Leaving the EU is one of Ukip's core policies, may barely know what it is. This will help your class understand what the EU does.
The EU in slides
Another great resource for exploring Ukip's ideas on leaving the European Union.
Should the UK hold a referendum of leaving the EU?
This excellent topic guide from Debating Matters gives a succinct intro to complex issues with extensive further readings for those who want more. Much needed info for any debate on Ukip.
Politics for beginners
This is one of the most popular resources on the Guardian Teacher Network - lack of basic knowledge about politics will stifle any discussion around political parties such as Ukip. This document does a great job of filling in the gaps.
**The best of the web**
Ukip's official site
Find out all about what Ukip describes as "common sense" politics and view Nigel Farage's party political broadcast.
Fear and hope report
What do people from the UK think about identity and race? The Searchlight Education Trust polled 5,054 respondents and produced one of the largest and surveys into attitude, identity and extremism in the UK to date.
The Tory Diary
A couple of interesting blogs on the Conservative party official blog site. Can Boris Johnson take on Nigel Farage and is a Ukip/Tory pact on the cards? Lib Dems watch out!
The Labour take: listen to the pragmatic majority on immigration
Good stats here on the Labour party official blog, 61% of people favour a managed immigration policy and only 18% want and end to it. So maybe it's not time for the mainstream to tether itself to Ukip or the BNP quite yet. What do your students think?
The BBC on the Queen's speech: immigrants face tougher rules
How much of an impact is Ukip going to have on mainstream politics after election success? A fresh attempt to curb immigration is the centrepiece of the government's planned new laws, set out by the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament.
*This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Looking for your next role? Take a look at Guardian jobs for schools for thousands of the latest teaching, leadership and support jobs.* Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.