Lesson Plan - Europe’s Historic Alliance

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will learn about the European Union by integrating information from an article, photographs, a map, and an atlas and almanac.

Curriculum Connections

• Political and Economic Maps

• The European Union

• The United Kingdom

• World War II

• The Euro

• Gross Domestic Produc

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Analyze consequences, benefits, and problems associated with global connections

• Identify continuities over time and processes that lead to change

English Language Arts:

• Identify central ideas and key details

• Analyze causes and effects

• Integrate information presented in multiple formats

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

1. Preparing to Read

Build Background and Vocabulary

Have students choose a European country to research with the interactive atlas and almanac. (Click “Atlas & Almanac” in the top menu at junior.scholastic.com. Then select “World Atlas.”) Ask students to write three sentences with facts about the country they chose. Then use the Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms in the article.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently. After students read, ask: Is the country you chose to research part of the European Union? If so, which per capita GDP range is it in?

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

What is the European Union (E.U.)? What are its goals? (Central Ideas)
The European Union is a political and economic partnership of 27 countries across Europe. It makes laws, has its own money, and shares free trade. Some of its goals are to encourage peace and stability and to protect human rights and the environment.

• What is Brexit? How has it affected Europe? (Cause and Effect)
Brexit is a name for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the E.U. The U.K. is the first country to ever leave the alliance. The U.K. and the E.U. had to negotiate new rules about how they would trade and interact with each other. Additionally, U.K. citizens no longer have the right to live or work in any E.U. country.

• What does German leader Angela Merkel mean when she says “Exceptional situations require exceptional measures”? (Making Meaning)
Merkel means that the Covid-19 pandemic is an exceptional situation because it has devastated many people’s lives and economies. The E.U. is taking “exceptional measures” to respond by working to raise $850 billion to help its member nations.

3. Skill Building

Read a Political and Economic Map

Have students answer the questions about the map on pages 22-23 independently or in groups. Review answers and correct any misunderstandings.

Printable Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Lesson: Europe's Historic Alliance

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