Model UN is a fun and educational activity that allows students to learn more about international politics, become better speakers, and how to effectively communicate and compromise. Unlike debate, which puts two teams against each other, Model UN assigns each student a country that must work together to address a global problem. Students will learn to roleplay, how to present proposals, and how to engage in politics to pass their resolution. Each class begins with a brief lecture, followed by an activity to learn the skill taught within the lesson plan. Students will be expected to prepare information between several classes so they can be informed about the topic and country they’re assigned. This course is designed best for students who are ready and excited to interact with others, learn about different international perspectives, and enjoy learning in a hands-on way. By the end of the course students will become better at negotiating, speaking, critical thinking, working with others, and public speaking.

Day One: Countries and Resolutions: Students will be assigned a country and start thinking about potential resolutions they think their country would be interested in putting forth. Before next class students should have a couple of loose ideas about what their country might want, as well as some basic facts of the country they’re assigned.

Day Two: Negotiating and Presentation: Students will learn how to present their resolution to the General Assembly. Along with the rest of the class they will select down from their loose ideas to the specific resolution they would like to put forth. Before next class students should come prepared to present their resolution to the General Assembly.

Day Three: Presentations: Students will present to the General Assembly and take questions on their resolution, as well as open debate over the resolutions. Before next class students should come prepared to amend their resolutions and/or figure out which other students (countries) they can make mutually beneficial deals with.

Day Four: Negotiations and Crisis: Students will work and negotiate with other students to collect enough signatures for the passage of their resolution or become co-signatories of someone else’s resolution. At some point during this process, a crisis will happen that will change everything. Before next class students should have an idea of what resolutions they want to vote for, and how to account for the crisis. 

Day Five: Final Conclusion: Students will be given some time to conduct some final negotiations. Afterwards, each remaining student with a resolution will present it to the General Assembly for a final vote. Students win based upon having their resolution passed, being a co-signatory on a resolution, and for voting for the winning resolution.

On week six students will be given the opportunity to keep their same countries and start tackling a new set of resolutions of increasing difficulty for the remaining week, or pick new countries as a group and begin the process of calling a new general assembly to tackle global issues while learning about a new slate of nations and global problems.

Weeks seven to ten will depend on the choice students make on week six.