To support learning about global issues, United Nations Association UK (UNA-UK) has worked with teachers and global education specialists to produce a number of free teaching resources that add value to the curriculum, developing core skills and knowledge as well as broader learning and developmental objectives.

Each resource features introductory materials for teachers, including curriculum links for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

These resources can be used by both teachers and their students either within a class or a UN club.

They can also stimulate ideas about what students can do to inform others about the UN.

Overview of the United Nations

https://una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/overview-united-nations

Provides an overview of the UN that will be useful for teachers and can also be referred to by students. It includes commentary on the organisation and its work, as well as additional information on the UN’s bodies and activities.

The UK’s work with the UN

https://una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/uks-work-un

Guidance for teachers on how the UK works with the United Nations.

International Days – bring global issues to life

https://una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/international-days-bring-global-issues-life

Online teaching resource based on ‘UN International Days’, with 29 factsheets and activities for primary and secondary students covering global issues such as: human rights, press freedom, science, child labour, racism, health, refugees, water, conflict and the environment.

A student club could put on an exhibition on one of these days.

The United Nations Matters

https://una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/un-matters-teaching-pack

Four lessons, with worksheets and activities, to introduce secondary students to the UN and how it works to build peace, fight poverty and protect human rights, and a fifth lesson featuring a classroom simulation of a UN conference. Available online and in hard copy.

Learning about human rights

https://una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/learning-about-human-rights

This page provides materials to help teachers and students explore human rights together.

Five lessons, with worksheets and slide presentations, on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and how child rights are affected by conflict, climate change and poverty. Available to download.

Model United Nations

https://una.org.uk/get-involved/learn-and-teach/model-un-portal

Every year, more than 400,000 people from primary schools, secondary schools, universities, and beyond take part in a Model United Nations (MUN).

In an MUN students take on the role of UN ambassadors from different countries and have to prepare and deliver speeches during a debate.

The above page provides an overview to MUN provides a host of online resources for primary and secondary school teachers who want to organise or support a MUN – simulations of UN meetings.

It includes: template schedules, issue briefings, country profiles, preparation tips, a glossary and much more. Suitable for first-timers.

Other useful MUN sites

London International Model United Nations Foundation: https://www.limun.org.uk/

UN page on Model United Nations: https://www.un.org/en/mun

University of Warwick MUN Society: https://www.warwicksu.com/societies-sports/societies/modelun/

Other useful resources

https://una.org.uk/sites/default/files/Miscellaneous/School%20resources.pdf