NOTE: This is a collection of resources on the web that I have used for my classes and recommend for US educators who want to teach their students about the EU. I will update this page as I continue to find new resources. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are official websites of the EU.
ACTIVITIES, LESSON PLANS, AND OTHER TEACHING RESOURCES
Euro Challenge
– “Competition for 9th and 10th grade high school students to learn about the European Union and the Euro.”
EU Simulations (Model EU)
– Three simulations (one each on migration, trade, and anti-terrorism) provided by the Delegation of the EU to the US. NOTE: As of 2022, these are undergoing a revision process and have been taken down off the website.
EU Toolkits: Lessons and Resources
– Hosted by the Center for European Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. Toolkits are broken down by grade level (elementary, middle, and high school).
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE EU
*Delegation of the European Union to the United States
– Official website of the Delegation. Offers information and resources related to relations between the EU and the US.
*The European Union: A Guide for Americans
– In-depth publication from the Delegation with topics including the structure of the EU to the Euro. Probably more suitable for advanced or AP students.
*Europe in 12 Lessons
– EU publication introducing readers to 12 topics. Suitable for middle and high school.
*EU Learning Corner
– Materials and games for a variety of ages.
*EU-US Trade
– Hosted by the Delegation of the EU to the US. Provides information regarding trade and investment between the EU and the US, as well as the fifty states.
*Europe by Satellite
– Hosted by the European Commission, this is “the EU’s TV information service.” Users can choose to watch live or pick from a variety of clips.
*The History of the European Union
– Splits the history of the EU into important people and decades.
*Publications Office of the European Union
– Legal documents, publications, and more.
European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
– One of my favorite websites. The publications are quite useful to use in advanced/AP classes.
House of European History
– Website for the museum that covers a wide span of European history, including the EU. Students can explore some of the museum’s artifacts in the “Permanent Exhibition” section of the site.
EU INSTITUTIONS/BODIES
Since this page is mostly for middle and high school teachers, I am only including the EU institutions and bodies needed for a basic understanding of the EU. For a longer list, click here.
*The Council
– Contains information for both the European Council and the Council of the EU (neither of which should be confused with the Council of Europe.)
*European Commission
– I recommend starting with the tab titled, “What We Do,” which provides the Commission’s priorities and policies by topic. It’s also worth perusing the page for the European Citizens’ Initiative, “a unique and innovative way for citizens to shape Europe by calling on the European Commission to make a legislative proposal.”
*European Parliament
– News, general information, and a lot more. If you’re looking to bring in some culture to your classes, check out “Multilingualism in the European Parliament.” I also recommend the Multimedia Centre for livestreams and packages, which provide resources on specific topics. They also offer an interactive on the Ordinary Legislative Procedure (the legislative process).
*European External Action Service
– The place to learn more about the EU’s role in the world and its relations with other countries/regions.
*US and EU Branches of Government
– Created by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, DC, this page compares the three branches of government for both the US and the EU.
EU CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
These are centers at US universities that provide resources and opportunities to learn more about the EU. Many of them conduct K-12 outreach.
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Florida International University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PODCASTS
EU Now
– Produced by the Delegation of the EU to the US.
The Europe Desk
– Podcast produced by the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University.
Inside Europe
– Produced by Deutsche Welle, this podcast is “a one hour weekly news magazine that explores the topical issues shaping the continent.”
Politico’s EU Confidential
– Weekly podcast produced by Politico Europe.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The EU on Social Media
– Search for the EU on 11 different social media platforms.
EU Spotify
– Another great way to bring culture into the classroom, this time with music from across the EU.
#EUArchives
– YouTube playlist covering 60 years of European history. Hosted by the European Commission.
THINK TANKS
These are just the ones I regularly visit for research and projects. To get an idea of how many are in based in Brussels, check out this sample from The Brussels Binder.
Carnegie Europe
– They do work mostly on European foreign policy. Judy Dempsey’s Strategic Europe is worth checking out.
European Council on Foreign Relations
– Similar to Carnegie Europe in its emphasis on European foreign policy.
German Marshall Fund
– Devoted to transatlantic relations. They host the annual Brussels Forum, a multi-day gathering of officials, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders in transatlantic relations.
Have an addition or correction for me? Please fill out the contact form below.
Jason L. Knoll 