The Supranational European Union: An Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics Lesson

Daniel Hoppe, a social studies teacher at Bay Port High School, created this lesson plan for AP comparative government and politics and European history teachers.

Federalism: EU & U.S. Comparison

This module, designed by Paul R. Edleman, a professor of political science at Sauk Valley Community College, provides students with an introduction to the European Union, its central institutions, and how the governing system of the EU compares to the U.S. federal system. 

Understanding Spanish Culture through the Lens of Blancanieves

This lesson plan, designed by Melody Bridges, head of humanities at Lancing Prep School, uses the film "Blancanieves" to explore film studies and contemporary Spanish culture.

Exploring Dark Tourism in Europe: Confronting History's Shadows

Consuelo Maria Johnson, an eighth-grade mathematics teacher at Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary School in Rose Hill, NC, USA, designed this lesson plan with the aim of having students analyze the concept of dark tourism in Europe, evaluate its ethical implications, and explain its historical significance.

Structured Discussion on Human Rights

Created by Waverly High School Spanish teacher Cass Didier, this lesson plan is designed to be used in a club/activity setting to get students to think critically about human rights and the challenges of ensuring human rights across the globe.

Multilingualism in the EU

Blanca Bustos, a former middle school Spanish teacher, created this lesson plan introducing the European Union, its institutions and currency, and its approach to multilingualism after attending the Brussels Study Tour. This lesson plan is designed to be taught over the course of five class periods. 

Turkification

This lesson plan, created by Dr. Shane Markowitz, Director of Global Education and Teacher of Global Studies, World Geography, and World History at C. S. Lewis Bilingual High School, is based on the article "'Turkified': Why I Can Never Be a Proper German," published in Der Spiegel, and explores issues of integration, stereotyping, and prejudice in Germany.

European Union: Which Nation Should Join Next?

With all the talk about Brexit, why do countries want to join the EU? This lesson, created by Pat Miletich, History and Social Studies Teacher at the University School of Nashville, will allow students to research the EU, member states, and candidates; examine the criteria and process for admittance; weigh the advantages and disadvantages of EU membership; and scrutinize the reasons for and decision-making involved in deciding which nation should join next.

Psychological Aspects of the Holocaust

This syllabus, created by Cari Stevenson, Professor of Psychology at Kankakee Community College, as part of the International Studies Research Lab in 2017, explores psychology concepts through a study of the Holocaust. 

Module on the European Union in International Relations

This module was created by Amanda Cook Fesperman, Professor of Political Science and History at Illinois Valley Community College, as part of the International Studies Research Lab in 2018. The module uses the case of the European Union to teach students about intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) in international relations.

Minority Languages in France, Italy, and Spain

This presentation was given by Alessia Zulato, Italian Language Teacher at Marist High School in Chicago, Ill., as part of the EU Center's 2020 Summer Curriculum Workshop. The video can be accessed here, and the accompanying slides can be found here. 

Online Teaching Resources

This presentation was given by Dr. Rhett Oldham, U.S. and World History Teacher at Ste. Genevieve Middle and High School in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., as part of the Summer 2020 Virtual Educators Workshop: K-14 Education During COVID-19 in the U.S. and Abroad, organized by the Illinois Global Institute area studies centers at the University of Illinois. The video can be accessed here, and the accompanying slides can be found here.

Official and Co-official Languages of Spain

This video, geared towards K-8 students, introduces some common words and phrases in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, and Basque. 

European Union Teaching Resources

This guide, prepared by the International & Area Studies Library, is intended to assist teachers with using the Library to conduct personal and education-related research on the European Union.  It includes resources available through UIUC (as well as instructions on how to access these materials) in addition to lesson plans, professional development opportunities, and other content freely available on the Internet.

Must Try Harder: Recovering from Educational Inequality

This article in Social Europe, by Shane Markowitz, Director of Global Education and Teacher of Global Studies, World Geography, and World History at C. S. Lewis Bilingual High School in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, discusses the consequences the pandemic has had on access to education among disadvantaged children in Europe.

Europe Week 2021 Booklet

Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan, Lecturer in European Politics at University College Cork, created this booklet of activities and games for elementary school students to learn about the European Union. The booklet was originally put together for Europe Week 2021, but the activities can be used at any time.