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Identify the 28 member nations that belong to the European Union (EU).
Recognize the flag that is the symbol of the European Union, and the euro as the monetary unit for most of its countries.
Learn about the history and formation of the European Union.
Explain some of the main goals and policies of the European Union.

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For the whole group:

Computers or other video-enabled devices with internet access

For each student:

European Union handout (see attached PDF file)
Pen/pencil

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Read through and familiarize yourself with the entire activity.

Preview the video, the images, and the interactive map (see links below), and prepare to share them with students.

Interactive Europe Map

Countries of the European Union

Headquarters of the European Union

Skyline View of Brussels, Belgium

Video: What is the European Union? (BBC)

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Ask students to describe what they know about Europe. Then display the interactive map of Europe and identify it as a continent.
Tell students that today they will be learning about a group of European countries that together have formed the European Union.
Play the video “What is the European Union?” Pause at the 0:25 mark. Tell students that the flag they see on screen is the flag of the European Union.
Ask students to describe the flag and to suggest a meaning for its design. Confirm or explain that the design is a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background, and the stars stand for the hope of continued unity and harmony in Europe.
Resume and complete the video. Allow students to discuss the information they learned and pose any questions to you or the group.
Tell students the European Union has its headquarters in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
Display the interactive map of Europe. Then point to Belgium on the map. Next, display the images of the Brussels skyline and the headquarters of the European Union.
(Optional) Share with students that the location of the European Union’s headquarters actually has to do with alphabetical order and taking turns. Consider relating this story to information from the video (at about the 0:34 mark): Years ago, when Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands decided to work together to control their coal and steel industries, the 6 countries could not agree on where their main offices should be. It was decided that each country would take a “turn” at being in charge of the group, and turns would go in alphabetical order. Belgium went first because its name began with the letter B. Even though the other nations were supposed to have a turn, the European Union’s headquarters are still in Brussels today.
Divide students into pairs or groups of 3. Then distribute the European Union handout to each student.
Ask students to access the interactive map of Europe and work with their partners or groups to identify each EU member nation by hovering the cursor over sections of the map. When students have found each nation, have them place a check or an X next to that nation’s name in the chart.
Demonstrate how hovering the cursor over a nation reveals its name and the name of its capital city. Mention that clicking the yellow button that says “Show/Hide Cities” will reveal even more cities on the map.
After students have found each nation on the map, have them fill in the blank in the sentences above the chart.
Allow students time to answer the “European Union Q & A” questions with their partners or groups. Then review the answers.
- Choose a country that is a member of the European Union. What other member countries border this country?
- Which country is surrounded by EU countries but is not a member of the European Union? (Switzerland)
- What do Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta have in common? (They are members of the European Union that are islands.)
- Which 2 member countries have names that are almost the same? (Slovakia and Slovenia)
- The headquarters of the European Union are in Brussels, Belgium. What is the name of another capital city in the EU?
Lead a discussion about the activity.a) What is the single unit of money that is used by most of the countries in the European Union? Why is using the same money important for the EU? (The euro. Using the same money helps unite the economies of the countries and promotes more efficient trade between them.)b) Why are the European Union’s headquarters in Brussels? (Years ago, the first group of 6 countries could not decide where their main offices should be, so they decided to take turns. Belgium went first because the countries used alphabetical order. The headquarters are still in Brussels today.)c) After World War II, Winston Churchill called for a “United States of Europe.” How is the European Union like the United States? (Possible answers: The countries in the European Union are like the states in the United States; each independent in some ways but joined together in many ways, including economically.)

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Click through each link in the Countries of the European Union table to show students an image of each member nation’s flag.

Younger students can answer 2-3 “EU Q & A” questions on the handout instead of all 5.

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Students dive into historical events that have shaped government structures and other crucial organizations around the world.

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What Is the European Union?

What Is the European Union?

What Is the European Union?

Overview