2. What is a superpower?

Intended forY9, this is a fully-resourced synoptic unit about international relations designed to support pupils as they move towards GCSE Geography. The unit examines international relations and the factors that affect these, superpowers, alliances, trade, hard- and soft-power, Belt and Road Initiative/debt-trap diplomacy, the causes, consequences and solutions of war and the role and efficacy of the UN. There is an optional final series of lessons to allow pupils to watch Hotel Rwanda to support their learning and provide a but of light relief at the very end of the year - the film is not provided and you should be sure to examine the accompanying PowerPoint that explains the premise to pupils and also states the exact time where the “N” word is used in the film so you can mute it.

This lesson asks pupils to identify the criteria for being a ‘superpower’ then uses an engaging Top-Trumps style activity to ask them to rank countries based upon their eligibility. They they examine a model piece of extended writing before writing their own paragraph to argue which is the most important country in the world and why based upon this criteria.