Lessons
3rd & 4th Class (ages 9–10)
At this level, pupils begin to question, compare and debate ideas. These six lessons help them explore how the European Union works, why it was created, and how decisions are made within it. Originally developed in Ireland, all lessons are ready to use and fully adaptable, so you can easily adjust examples to fit your country and classroom context.
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
Lessons 3rd & 4th Class
Each lesson includes a short explanatory video for teachers, a 4-question quiz, and a PowerPoint presentation to support classroom learning.
Lesson 1 – Why the European Union Was Created
This lesson explores why the European Union was formed and what it means to belong to a “club” of countries. Pupils discuss the benefits and challenges of cooperation and reflect on the idea of unity through diversity, with the fun and famous EU Smoothie activity! You can adapt the examples and discussions to your country’s perspective within the EU.
Resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Quiz
- Activity sheet
- Activity Instruction
[+] See Irish version
Ceacht 1 Rang 3 agus 4
Pléann an chéad cheacht seo cén fáth ar cruthaíodh an tAontas Eorpach. Déanann sé díospóireacht ar na rudaí dearfacha agus diúltacha a bhaineann le muintearas le club. Tugann smoothie an AE deis do gach duine labhairt faoi cad is Aontas ann!
Curriculum Links
SPHE (1999)
- Strand: Myself
- Strand unit: Self-identity
- Strand: Myself and others
- Strand unit: My friends and others
- Strand unit: Relating to others
- Strand: Myself and the wider world
- Strand unit: Developing citizenship
Geography (1999)
- Strand: Human environments,
- Strand unit: Living in the local community
- Strand unit: People and places in other areas
History (1999)
- Strand: Life, society, work and culture in the past
- Strand unit: Life during World War II
English (2025)
- Strand: Communicating
- Strand unit: Engagement, listening and attention
- Strand: Understanding
- Strand unit: vocabulary
- Strand unit: demonstration of understanding
- Strand: Exploring and using
- Strand unit: Requests, questions and interactions
- Strand unit: Information giving, explanation and justification
Lesson 2 – Symbols of the European Union
The EU uses many symbols we see in everyday life, the flag, the anthem, the Euro, and even Europe Day. This lesson encourages pupils to recognise these symbols and discuss what they represent for all Europeans. It also gets them thinking about examples of Unity in Diversity, the motto of the EU.
You can add local examples or national celebrations to make it more relevant for your class.
Resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Quiz
- Activity sheet
- Activity Instruction
[+] See Irish version
Ceacht 2 Rang 3 agus 4
Úsáideann an AE go leor siombailí atá le feiceáil inár saol laethúil. Aibhsíonn an ceacht seo na siombailí sin agus tugann sé deis do na páistí díospóireacht a dhéanamh ar na fáthanna a gceapann siad go bhfuil siad tábhachtach.
Curriculum Links
SPHE (1999)
- Strand: Myself
- Strand unit: Self-identity
- Strand: Myself and others
- Strand unit: My friends and others
- Strand unit: Relating to others
- Strand: Myself and the wider world
- Strand unit: Developing citizenship
Geography (1999)
- Strand: Human environments,
- Strand unit: Living in the local community
- Strand unit: People and places in other areas
English (2025)
- Strand: Communicating
- Strand unit: Engagement, listening and attention
- Strand: Understanding
- Strand unit: vocabulary
- Strand unit: demonstration of understanding
- Strand: Exploring and using
- Strand unit: Requests, questions and interactions
- Strand unit: Information giving, explanation and justification
Maths (2025)
- Strand: Measures
- Strand unit: Money
- Strand: Number
- Strand unit: numeration and counting
- Strand unit: sets and operations
Music (1999)
- Strand: Listening and responding
- Strand unit: listening and responding to music
Lesson 3 – Leaving the Club (Brexit and Beyond)
This lesson focuses on the idea of a country leaving the EU, using Brexit as an example. Pupils reflect on why a member might choose to leave the club, and discuss how their own country’s role in Europe could evolve in the future.
Resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Quiz
- Activity sheet
- Activity Instruction
[+] See Irish version
Ceacht 3 Rang 3 agus 4
Díríonn an ceacht seo go hiomlán ar Brexit. Tugann sé deis do na páistí machnamh agus plé a dhéanamh ar na fáthanna ar shocraigh ball den chlub imeacht. Ag dul thar Brexit, tugann sé deis do na leanaí plé a dhéanamh ar ról na hÉireann san AE sa todhchaí agus ar a caidreamh leis an RA.
Curriculum Links
SPHE (1999)
- Strand: Myself
- Strand unit: Self-identity
- Strand: Myself and others
- Strand unit: Relating to others
- Strand: Myself and the wider world
- Strand unit: Developing citizenship
Geography (1999)
- Strand: Human environments,
- Strand unit: Living in the local community
- Strand unit: People and places in other areas
English (2025)
- Strand: Communicating
- Strand unit: Engagement, listening and attention
- Strand: Understanding
- Strand unit: vocabulary
- Strand unit: demonstration of understanding
- Strand: Exploring and using
- Strand unit: Requests, questions and interactions
- Strand unit: Information giving, explanation and justification
Lesson 4 – How Decisions Are Made in Europe
To develop a sense of multi-level citizenship, this lesson uses interactive games to identify how decisions are made at local, national, and European levels. It also introduces the concept of the Single Market, one of the main achievements.
Looking at simple items such as toys, bulb packages or glue sticks, the pupils identify the common symbol which all toys in the EU to certify that they meet consumer safety standards. Teachers can adapt the examples to include their own country’s decision-making structures.
Resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Quiz
- Activity sheet
- Activity Instruction
[+] See Irish version
Ceacht 4 Rang 3 agus 4
Chun braistint saoránachta a fhorbairt i ndomhan domhanda, úsáideann an ceacht seo cluichí chun leibhéil cinnteoireachta a aithint – áitiúil, náisiúnta agus Eorpach. Tugann sé isteach freisin coincheap an Mhargaidh Aonair atá ag croílár an Aontais Eorpaigh.
Curriculum Links
SPHE (1999)
- Strand: Myself
- Strand unit: Self-identity
- Strand: Myself and others
- Strand unit: Relating to others
- Strand: Myself and the wider world
- Strand unit: Developing citizenship
Geography (1999)
- Strand: Human environments,
- Strand unit: Living in the local community
- Strand unit: People and places in other areas
English (2025)
- Strand: Communicating
- Strand unit: Engagement, listening and attention
- Strand unit: Social conventions and awareness of others
- Strand: Understanding
- Strand unit: Sentence structure and grammar
- Strand unit: vocabulary
- Strand unit: demonstration of understanding
- Strand: Exploring and using
- Strand unit: Requests, questions and interactions
- Strand unit: categorisation
- Strand unit: retelling and elaboration
- Strand unit: Information giving, explanation and justification
Lesson 5 – Preparing for the European Elections
This lesson introduces pupils to the European Parliament and the role of its members. They prepare for a classroom simulation of an election by designing posters, creating ideas, writing short speeches, and taking on roles such as candidates, journalists, or voters. Everyone in the class has a role.
Resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Quiz
- Activity sheet
- Activity Instruction
[+] See Irish version
Ceacht 5 Rang 3 agus 4
Tosaíonn an ceacht seo le plé ar chás na hÉireann beag san AE mór. Míníonn sé cad is Parlaimint ann agus ról comhalta den Pharlaimint. Bogann sé ar aghaidh ansin go dtí na hullmhúcháin do na toghcháin Eorpacha a bheidh ar siúl an tseachtain dár gcionn). Tugtar ról do gach leanbh, bíodh sé ina iarrthóir, ina dhéantóir smaointe, ina dhearthóir póstaer, ina iriseoir nó ina vótálaí.
Curriculum Links
SPHE (1999)
- Strand: Myself
- Strand unit: Self-identity
- Strand: Myself and others
- Strand unit: Relating to others
- Strand: Myself and the wider world
- Strand unit: Developing citizenship
Geography (1999)
- Strand: Human environments,
- Strand unit: Living in the local community
- Strand unit: People and places in other areas
English (2025)
- Strand: Communicating
- Strand unit: Engagement, listening and attention
- Strand unit: Social conventions and awareness of others
- Strand: Understanding
- Strand unit: Sentence structure and grammar
- Strand unit: vocabulary
- Strand unit: demonstration of understanding
- Strand: Exploring and using
- Strand unit: Requests, questions and interactions
- Strand unit: Information giving, explanation and justification
Lesson 6 – Election Day!
The big day has arrived! Pupils act out their roles in the simulated European election. Votes are cast and counted, and a winning candidate is chosen. The lesson concludes by explaining the role of Members of the European Parliament and how they work with other EU institutions.
Resources:
- Lesson plan
- Lesson slides
- Quiz
- Activity sheet
- Activity Instruction
[+] See Irish version
Ceacht 6 Rang 3 agus 4
Tá an lá mór tagtha! Feidhmíonn gach leanbh a ról i bhfeachtas toghcháin na hEorpa. Déantar na vótaí a chomhaireamh agus toghtar an t-iarrthóir buaiteach. Mínítear agus pléann an ceacht ról Fheisirí Pharlaimint na hEorpa mar chinnteoir in éineacht leis na hinstitiúidí Eorpacha eile.
Curriculum Links
SPHE (1999)
- Strand: Myself
- Strand unit: Self-identity
- Strand: Myself and others
- Strand unit: Relating to others
- Strand: Myself and the wider world
- Strand unit: Developing citizenship
Geography (1999)
- Strand: Human environments,
- Strand unit: People and places in other areas
English (2025)
- Strand: Communicating
- Strand unit: Engagement, listening and attention
- Strand unit: Social conventions and awareness of others
- Strand: Understanding
- Strand unit: Sentence structure and grammar
- Strand unit: vocabulary
- Strand unit: demonstration of understanding
- Strand: Exploring and using
- Strand unit: Requests, questions and interactions
- Strand unit: Information giving, explanation and justification
Drama (1999)
- Strand: Drama to explore feelings, knowledge and ideas, leading to understanding
- Strand unit: Exploring and making drama
- Strand unit: Cooperating and communicating in making drama
Need a fun break between lessons?
Let your pupils discover the EU with Seamie Shamrock!
The KidZone features short, interactive games that make EU topics playful and easy to grasp.
Perfect for 5–12 year-olds | Just a few minutes per game
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.