In this session, pupils review the countries in the continent of Europe and identify those that are part of the European Union. They also consider the EU’s impact on member states and EU citizens.

Pupils have opportunities to learn about:

• the composition of the EU;
• the nature of the EU and its institutions;
• the impact of the EU on individuals;
• EU laws, policies and institutions;
• EU currencies; and
• how to manage a budget.

Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities

In this session, the emphasis is on the skill of Managing Information. Pupils have opportunities to:

• group, select, sort and evaluate information – by processing information from a video and the internet and writing a newspaper article that presents their views on EU laws and policies; and
• record and adapt information – by obtaining information from the internet and restructuring it into maps, tables and flip charts.

Cross-Curricular Skills

If you wish, you can develop the following Cross-Curricular Skills in this session:

• Communication (Writing) – Pupils write a newspaper article outlining the pros or cons of EU laws and policies.
• Using Mathematics – Pupils use currency exchange rates and solve problems involving money.

Return to the learning intentions to summarise the session.

Return to your pupils’ K-W-L grids and ask them to add anything they have learned to the third column. When completed, together reflect on the following:

• Why is the EU important?
• What they found interesting about the EU?
• What they found difficult to understand about the EU?