UN Teaching Resources
ASPNet
Associated Schools Programme
https://www.unesco.org.uk/designation/unesco-schools/
Learning to live together as global citizens
The UNESCO Associated Schools Programme is a global network of schools, which educate for sustainable development allowing every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future.
The global network of over 10,000 educational institutions from 181 countries is coordinated internationally by Livia Saldari, based in Paris.
By joining UNESCO Associated Schools your school can:
- Join a global network of schools directly linked with the UN system
- Participate in seminars and conferences in the UK and internationally
- Receive a diploma signed by the UNESCO Director General to display in your school
- Use teaching materials on the UN system and global issues
- Read regular newsletters with updates on resources and activities
- Access materials developed by various UN organisations
- Take part in 10 international flagship projects on themes such as Transatlantic Slave Trade, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and world heritage
- Access to expert speakers on UN issues
The UK ASPnet network is coordinated by educational charity, the Steve Sinnott Foundation in partnership with the UK National Commission for UNESCO.
Contact
Ann Beatty
UNESCO Associated Schools Network Coordinator
Steve Sinnott Foundation
ann.beatty@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk
Challenge Badges
http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/f8d919c2-0c63-5949-86d6-7ed5739eff76/
The purpose of the United Nations challenge badges is to raise awareness, educate and, most of all, motivate young people to change their behaviour and be active agents of change in their local communities. Challenge badges are appropriate for use with school classes and youth groups, and are endorsed by WAGGGS and WOSM. They include a wide range of activities and ideas that can easily be adapted by teachers or leaders. Additional badges are available or are being developed on a number of other topics, including: Agriculture, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Energy, Forests, Governance, Hunger, Nutrition, Soils and Water. The Ocean Challenge Badge is designed to help educate children and young people about the vital role the ocean plays in supporting life on Earth. The badge looks at how people live by, explore and use the coast, the seas and marine products, describing the effect this has on the marine environment and offering ideas on how individuals can take action to help make this close relationship more sustainable.
United Nations Matters Teaching Pack
https://www.una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/un-matters-teaching-pack
‘The United Nations Matters’ is a teaching resource that aims to develop students’ awareness and understanding of the UN system and the global issues it tackles. It was produced with generous funding from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
This resource pack has been created to support Key Stage 3 and 4 Citizenship (England) and Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (Wales). It is also relevant to Learning for Life and Work (Northern Ireland), One Planet and Sustainable Development (Scotland), as well as Geography; History; Local and Global Citizens; Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education; Politics; and Religious and Moral Education. The pack supports the ‘Global Dimension’ in all parts of the UK. This resource aims to develop students’ awareness and understanding of the United Nations (UN) system and the global issues it tackles.
It encompasses five lessons that can either be run as a full scheme of work or used independently. Each lesson includes teacher’s notes, lesson plans and student worksheets. Lessons 1–4 are 60-minute lessons, while lesson 5, which features a simulation of the UN Security Council, comprises one 60-minute preparatory lesson and a 60- or 120-minute simulation.
This teaching pack demonstrates the relevance of the UN to international affairs and how the UN makes a positive contribution to peace and security, poverty alleviation and human rights. The lessons enable students to understand global issues from a range of perspectives, and develop their own viewpoints on how best to tackle them. The lessons actively encourage important citizenship skills such as participation, cooperation and collaboration, negotiation, diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Includes the following resources, among others: teacher’s handbook, lesson plans, student worksheets.
World’s Largest Lesson
http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/
Starts in September every year.
The World’s Largest Lesson is a collaborative education project learning about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In September 2015, world leaders committed to the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. 17 goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years from ending extreme poverty to fixing climate change. The World’s Largest Lesson provide teaching resources and lessons plans to help teachers to bring these Goals into the classroom. If every school in the world teaches children about the Global Goals, we will help them become the generation that changed the world.
Includes lesson plans for various age ranges from 4 upwards, videos, posters, booklets, comic books, an educator training course and much more.
YUNGA Challenge Badges
http://www.fao.org/yunga/resources/challenge-badges/en/
Developed in collaboration between United Nations agencies, civil society and other organizations, Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) Challenge Badges aim to raise children’s awareness, educate and motivate them to change their behaviour and become an active agent of change in their local community.
Challenge Badge activities are both educational – and fun! YUNGA want children to enjoy learning about how to make our world a more sustainable, fairer place.
There are a wide range of topic resources, some of which are still being developed.
All the resources are available online and you can download a completion certificate and buy the cloth badges.
Youth Guide to the Ocean
http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/7b658598-6e27-43a8-b0f8-2aaa06ae78a8/
This Ocean Guide, jointly developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) with contributions from many other institutions, is designed as an educational resource for schools, youth groups and other curious young learners. It explores the ocean from the coastal zones to the frozen poles, the deep sea to the open ocean. It takes a close look at the physical features and natural processes that shape the incredible plant and animal life to be found underwater as well as life-forms exposed by the tides. It also demonstrates the many benefits the ocean provides us, discusses the negatives impacts we unfortunately have on the ocean and explains how good management can help protect and conserve the ocean and ocean life. At the end of the Guide, inspiring examples of youth-led initiatives are provided, and an easy-to-follow action plan aims to help readers develop your own ocean conservation activities and projects.
262 pages