European Union Lesson Plans: Up-to-Date Teaching Tools about Contemporary Europe

This modular series of ten EU lesson plans was prepared by the European Union Delegation to the United States. The lessons are designed to support History and Social Sciences curricula in the United States for grades 9-12 and can be adapted for middle school students.

Developed by educators, the lessons can be used as stand-alone units or as a series. Each lesson is accompanied by a PowerPoint with additional information to support the presentation. These lessons will  be updated periodically to correlate with new developments in the European Union.

Table of Contents
 
Lesson 1: A Rationale for Studying Europe: The Changing Context of EU-US Relations
PowerPoint: Why should students in the United States study Europe and the European Union?

Lesson 2: The Geography of Europe
PowerPoint: Where in the world is the European Union?

Lesson 3: Cultural Identity
PowerPoint: How does cultural diversity impact political identity?

Lesson 4: The Founding and Development of the European Union
PowerPoint: How did Europe transition from a period of conflict to a period of sustained peace?

Lesson 5: Structure of Government within the EU
PowerPoint: How does the structure of government within the EU compare with the Structure of government in the US?

Lesson 6: The EU's Economic and Monetary Union
PowerPoint: How do individuals, businesses and economies benefit from using the Euro?

Lesson 7: The Single Market and Free Trade
PowerPoint: How has the single market benefited millions of Europeans?

Lesson 8: Immigration to the European Union
PowerPoint: Why do individuals want to move into the European Union?

Lesson 9: The Environment, Energy and Climate Change
PowerPoint: How is the EU addressing the issue of climate change?

Lesson 10: The EU on the World State: Security, Stability and Prosperity
PowerPoint: How does the EU promote security, stability and prosperity?
 
Authors
Glen Blankenship, Associate Director and Chief Program Officer, Georgia Council on Economic Education
Michael Raymer, Program Manager, Georgia Council on Economic Education