6. What is the UN and what does it do?

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.

A selection of the various arms of the UN are introduced and compared with the Sustainable Development Goals. Pupils them examine a wide-range of historical examples of UN activity, from development to peacekeeping, to allow them to form a judgement on the utility and efficacy of the UN. The lesson ends with a “To what extent do you agree…” KS4 exam question to develop their GCSE Geography skills. The lesson closes with a reinforcement of the positive impacts of the UN for individuals.