Activities

Bring Europe to life in your classroom

Explore a growing collection of classroom activities — from short games and quizzes to full European simulations.
 All resources are free, editable, and ready to use. You can filter by age, duration, type, or equipment to find exactly what fits your lesson plan.
 Each activity can be used on its own or as a complement to a Key to the EU lesson.

Seamy Shamrock holding a pencil and a brush

Competences for Democratic Culture

Each lesson and activity supports the development of Competences for Democratic Culture, a framework developed by the Council of Europe to help pupils build key skills and attitudes for citizenship education. The four coloured boxes show which competences are developed in each lesson. Each lesson and activity have been designed to foster the development of values, attitudes, skills and critical knowledge.

Values

  • Valuing human dignity and human rights
  • Valuing cultural diversity
  • Valuing democracy, justice, fairness, equality and the rule of law

Attitudes

  • Openness to cultural otherness and to respect other beliefs, world views and practices
  • Respect
  • Civic-mindedness
  • Responsibility
  • Self-efficacy
  • Tolerance of ambiguity

Skills

  • Autonomous learning skills
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Skills of listening and observing
  • Empathy
  • Flexibility and adaptability
  • Linguistic, communicative and plurilingual skills
  • Co-operation skills
  • Conflict-resolution skills

Knowledge and critical understanding

  • Knowledge and critical understanding of the self
  • Knowledge and critical understanding of language and communication
  • Knowledge and critical understanding of the world: politics, law, human rights, culture, cultures, religions, history, media, economies, environment, sustainability

Activity Cards

What’s the difference between Activities and Resources?
Activities are the interactive games or exercises your pupils will complete in class.
Activity resources are the teacher materials that help you prepare : background notes, printable sheets, or instructions.

Age / Class level

Topic

Activity duration (min)

Discovering EU Countries

Exploring Europe Through Sharing and Presentation The Discovering EU Countries activity helps pupils in 1st and 2nd Class explore the…

Why Brexit?

Understanding a Major European Decision and Its Impact on Ireland This lesson helps pupils in 5th and 6th Class understand…

The Single Market and the Customs Union

How Trade, Travel and Work Function in the EU This lesson helps pupils in 5th and 6th Class understand how…

Discovering EU Values

Exploring Democracy, Equality and Solidarity This interactive lesson for 5th and 6th Class helps pupils discover and understand the core…

Who Makes the Decisions?

Understanding EU Institutions Through Role-Play This lesson helps pupils in 5th and 6th Class understand how decisions are made in…

What Does the EU Do?

Understanding EU Policies Through Real-Life Scenarios This lesson helps pupils in 5th and 6th Class understand what the European Union…

JUNIOR AND SENIOR INFANTS ACTIVITY- Lesson 1

THE EU FLAG 3. Draw the shape the stars on the EU flag make.

The Single Market in Action

Understanding the CE Mark and EU Safety Rules The Single Market in Action activity helps pupils in 3rd and 4th…

Discussing EU Values

Ranking, Debating and Reflecting on What Matters Most This lesson invites pupils in 5th and 6th Class to explore and…

Looking for a quick, playful activity with your pupils?

Try one of our KidGame online games!
In just a few minutes, your class can explore the European Union with Seamy Shamrock, learning about EU countries, flags and values — while having fun!

Go further with Europe Week!

Europe Day is just around the corner!

Why not celebrate it with a full week of fun and meaningful classroom activities about the European Union?

Join schools across the continent to explore, create, and connect.