What you might need to know

This video includes AI-generated content produced under human supervision. Script by Dr Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan.

This lesson focuses entirely on the symbols of the EU.

Just like countries with their flag and anthem, the EU also has symbols which represent the club. There are four: a flag, an anthem Ode to Joy, a special day called Europe Day which is on the 9th May every year and a motto – ‘Unity in Diversity’.

We get the children to listen to the national anthem and compare it with the European anthem, enquiring whether they have heard it before and where. We also identify the flag. There are 12 stars in a circle on a blue background. 12 stars like the 12 hours on a clock or 12 months in a year, 12 being a number in mythology that represents harmony and balance.

We then get the children to reflect on why Europe Day isn’t really celebrated and we compare it with St Patrick’s Day. It is worth asking them what they would do to celebrate Europe Day.

Finally the motto of Unity in Diversity is discussed. We look at it in the context of the 27 countries which are members – they are all different but united in the club. They all speak different languages, eat different foods, were different traditional clothes, etc

The Euro isn’t fully a symbol of the EU because only 21 countries out of the 27 are using it. Some have decided not to use it (like Sweden or Denmark) and some don’t meet the criteria to use it like Romania. Bulgaria joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2026.

Looking at Euro coins, you can get the children to spot that the value face is identical for all the Euro coins with a map of the EU, the 12 stars and the value of the coin.

But the tail side is different depending on which country has minted the coin. Countries use their national symbols on the Euro coins and some countries like France or Italy use several symbols depending on the value of the coin.

For Ireland, it’s a harp for all the coins no matter the amount. It is the same for Belgium. It is worth reminding the children that you can use Euro coins across the Eurozone and that Irish shops don’t only take Euro coins with a harp at the back. Many of the pupils I have met believed it was the case.