The European Parliament: What’s that?

A European Union teaching resource for 11-16 year olds.

 

This issues-based pack has been developed to assist teachers deliver the EU strand of the national curriculum in citizenship at Key Stages 3 and 4. It can also be used in other classes to teach about the EU.

Key Stage 3 and 4 teachers wishing to receive the complete pack (interactive CD-Rom with film clips, quizzes, teachers' notes and activity files, a DVD with film clips only and standalone paper-based resources with lesson plans, maps, mystery cards and an assembly plan) should email:

eplondon@europarl.europa.eu mentioning the title of the pack 'The European Parliament: What's that?' and giving name, position (eg citizenship coordinator), school, postal address, email address and telephone number.

In the event that you do not have the equipment to use the CD-Rom but you wish to use the DVD instead, you can download below the teachers’ notes and activity sheets designed to be used with the videos on the DVD. These files are the same ones to be found on the CD-Rom.

The activities aim to promote discussion about the function of the EU and its Parliament and the implications of EU membership. They have been designed to encourage real debate; to give students the opportunity to discover what they really think whilst giving them the key terms and concepts they need to be able to engage with this debate and politics in general.

  • The complete set of documents, itemised below, is available in a ZIP archive (file size: 7,386 kB) - to download click here.

 

Teachers' notes and Activities to support the DVD.

The nine videos are based around learning objectives that are divided up into three Parts. These, with the curriculum links and other useful information, are explained in the general teachers’ notes. Teachers’ notes and activity sheets are also downloadable from the CD Rom.

Download General Teachers’ Notes PDF (2,748 kB) [ file updated 24 Oct. 2006 ]

 

 

Part 1: What does Europe mean to me?

 

Video 1: The History of the European Union - 4 mins 23 secs

This short video explores the history of the European Union (EU), the reasons why it was formed and its main functions.

The supporting activity is in the form of a True/false quiz.

Download Teachers’ Notes (Quiz) PDF (115 kB)
Download Student Activity MS Word doc of quiz (291 kB)

 

Video 2: How does the European Union affect you? 3 mins 40 secs

This video talks about the impact EU policy as had on our daily lives here in the UK. It is supported by two activities:

  • Sorting exercise: discussing the advantages and disadvantages of EU membership.
  • Worksheet / Discussion exercise: Who do you think should be responsible for making the laws that affect us?

Download Teachers’ Notes (Sorting exercise advantages and disadvantages) PDF (102 kB)
Download Student Activity (Sorting exercise advantages and disadvantages) MS Word doc (290 kB)

Download Teachers’ Notes (Who should be responsible) PDF (73 kB)
Download Student Activity (Who should be responsible) MS Word doc (2,349 kB)

 

Part 2: The role of the European Parliament and its MEPs

 

Video 3: What does an MEP do?6 mins 20 secs

This video outlines the role and responsibilities of the European Parliament and explains the role of MEPs and how they work with other institutions to make and shape the law.

Download Teachers’ Notes (Role of MEP) PDF (94 kB)
Download Student Activity: What does an MEP do? - Worksheet MS Word doc (291 kB)
Download Student Activity: Develop an MEP Campaign Leaflet – blank worksheet - MS publisher (197 kB)
Download Student Activity: Develop an MEP Campaign Leaflet – prompt sheet - MS publisher (202 kB)
Download Student Activity: Develop an MEP Campaign Leaflet – sample completed version - MS publisher (227 kB)

 

 

Part 3: Making change happen

These videos show examples of issues that concern the European Parliament and ones which are of interest to 11-16 year olds. They demonstrate the impact that the European Parliament has had on these issues. They are supported by “role play” activities which allow the students to debate these issues from opposing points of view.

Videos 4-8:

The Single Market - 6 mins 8 secs

Consumer Protection – 4 mins 31 secs

Animal Welfare - 5 mins 59 secs

The Environment - 5 mins 31 secs

Professional Football - 4 mins 11 secs

Download Teachers’ Notes (Roleplay) PDF (112 kB)

Student Activity:
Download Role play – The Single Market - MS Word doc (187 kB)
Download Role play – Consumer Protection - MS Word doc (190 kB)
Download Role play – Animal Welfare - MS Word doc (191 kB)
Download Role play – The Environment - MS Word doc (189 kB)
Download Role play – Professional Football - MS Word doc (193 kB)
Download Role play – What did you learn? - MS Word doc (176 kB)

 

 

Video 9: Getting Involved – 1 min 52 secs

This video gives the MEPs views on why they think and welcome the opinions and involvement of young people. The document below gives an A-Z list of other resources, weblinks, games and activities you can either undertake with students or they can do individually or in groups to explore this subject in greater depth.

Download A-Z of resources - MS Word doc (330 kB)

 

 

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