Body of the lesson
- Show symbols of the EU – flag. Clarify that there are 12 stars on the flag. They do not symbolise the number of countries. 12 like the hours on a clock. It is a number that symbolises harmony and unity.
- Play the anthem ‘Ode to Joy’. Does it sound familiar? Does it evoke any emotion? Discuss when it would be played – official EU events, it has been used in Ryder Cup (European v US golf teams) when Europe has won, was used as theme song in 2016 for the EUROs qualifying rounds, and the European qualifying rounds for the World Cup.
- The motto ‘United in Diversity’. Discuss what this means and if children think that it is a good motto.
- Look at Euro coins to demonstrate the union on one side and the diversity on the other side. Compare with sterling pounds and dime/cents.
- Remind students that some countries in the Union are not using the Euro. EU does not equal Eurozone this is why the Euro isn’t a symbol of the EU.
- Each child is given a flag of an EU country. Various dates of membership are placed around the room, and each child moves to the date that they think their country joined the EU.
- 1957: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
1973: UK, Ireland and Denmark
1981: Greece
1986: Spain and Portugal
1995: Finland, Austria, Sweden
2004: Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia
2007: Bulgaria, Romania
2013: Croatia