Model United Nations
In addition to a school council as discussed in the previous section, another way of encouraging pupils to engage in critical reflection and debate on important local and global issues is through a model United Nations (UN). Here we look at a simulation of the UN General Assembly in which pupils represent different countries on the General Assembly and explore an important global issue around a proposed motion. The exercises can take place in the classroom or can be school wide. There is also a series of regional, national, and even international model UN conferences. The process aims to promote pupil and teacher interest in international relations and teaches research and communication skills. Through participation in such a process pupils have a chance to develop important active citizenship skills, such as public speaking, problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution, compromise and co-operation.
Now complete the activity on the right. Part 1 looks at a model UN. Part 2 enables you to try out the model UN process in your own school. This could either be tried in one class or as a whole-school conference where UN General Assembly 'delegates' are drawn from a selection of classes. In this case, whole classes or groups within classes could research a particular country and the topic and vote for the delegates who will represent them at the conference.
Activity Resources:
- Images
- Interactive
- Sound
- Text
- Video
Activity
Part 1
Click on the Video icon and watch the two short clips from Section 6 of the British Council video Developing Global Citizens in Primary Schools (IBT/The Central Bureau for International Education and Training, 2000). These examine a model UN conference involving primary pupils in Halifax. Transcripts of the clips are available on the IBT web site. Transcript: section 6
Part 2
- Choose a topical issue on which nations have different views and different interests, such as child labour, and propose a resolution on which to base the discussion. This could be, for example, 'The Assembly condemns the use of children as labour in manufacturing industries and calls for nations to ban any child of 14 years or under being employed in factories or manufacturing processes'. Further information on how to write a resolution is provided in the 'Writing a MUNGA resolution' section of the Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) web site. MUNGA web site
- Identify a group of countries to take part in the debate and assign these countries to pupils who will have the task of representing them. Once the pupils have had a chance to research their country and its views on the issue, hold a conference at which the motion is debated, amended and agreed.
