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Citizenship KS4
a suggested lesson plan
The UK’s role in the European Union
Lesson objective
Learn what it means for the UK to be a member of the European Union
| Introduction (five minutes) | Whole class question and answer What do we know about the EU? Put questions on whiteboard:  When did it start and why? What does it do? How many members does it have When did the UK join?Prompts 1957. Basic motive: stop wars in Europe; broader purpose, for countries to work together for mutual benefit: four freedoms of movement (people, capital, goods, services) Good for trade, the environment, democracy, human rights 27 with one in the wings 1973 Where do you see the EU flag? Vehicle registration plate? Common format among many member states but is not mandatory. |
| Main part of lesson |
Today we are going to think about the UK and the EU |
| UK in Europe (15 minutes) |
Group activity Show the topics on the whiteboard Who from the UK does what in Brussels What we get out of it What difference it makes to us (for differentiation)If possible students should have access to a PC. If not, download fact sheets for group study. References: The UK in the EU Everyday EU – Europe around the clock EU guide – What is the EU? |
| UK questions (15 minutes) | Whole class discussion Choice of Free movement of people helps our economy and benefits our societyNote This topic may need careful handling if there are immigrants in the class. But UK residents are free to live and work abroad too and very many do. We have to obey too many rules made by other countriesNote The UK helps make the rules, has its share of MEPs, its votes in the Council of Ministers, etc. The UK should abolish the need for UK people to carry passports when travelling in the EUNote The UK is one of five members of the EU that are not full members of the Schengen agreement. The UK thinks it is different, being an island, but Malta is a member. References: Migration myths – True or False quiz EU border controls – Schengen |
| Plenary close (5 minutes) |
Quiz: 10 questions based on the lesson Class vote on “Is the EU a good thing or a bad thing for the UK?” |
| Fact sheet | Summaries of the three main institutions |
| Programme of Study Attainment Target |
Key concept 1.3c Key process 2.1d Range and content 3m levels 6-8 |