What is the UK's role in the United Nations?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the organisation of the United Nations and the part that the UK plays in it.
Key learning points
- The UN was created after WWII and works through its members to tackle global challenges and support peace efforts.
- The General Assembly is made up of all UN Member States and allows every country an equal vote to discuss global issues.
- The Security Council maintains peace, with five permanent members and 10 rotating members.
- The UK is a permanent Security Council member with veto power and influence over peace and security decisions.
- The UK contributes troops and funding to UN peacekeeping and supports global action through the General Assembly.
Keywords
United Nations (UN) - an international organisation comprising most countries in the world which aims to promote peace, security and international cooperation
Security Council - the UN Security Council is made up of 15 members, five permanent and 10 rotating; it is primarily responsible for international peace and security
General Assembly - the main meeting of all UN Member States where each has one vote to discuss global issues and suggest actions
Permanent member - the five nations who permanently sit on the UN Security Council; they have the power to veto UN actions and decisions
Veto - the right to reject a decision or proposal
Common misconception
The UN can force countries to follow its decisions.
Most UN decisions are not legally binding. Only Security Council resolutions are, and even these can be blocked by a permanent member’s veto.
Teacher tip
Use real UN case studies like the Chagos Islands or peacekeeping missions to help pupils connect abstract structures to real-world impact. Note that the Chagos Islands situation is ongoing. Please check for the latest developments before teaching this case study.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to its definition.
group of countries or Member States working for peace
helping keep peace in conflict zones
rights everyone should have
Q2.The United Nations was created after the Second World ...
Q3.Where is the UN's headquarters?
Q4.What is the primary goal of the UN?
Q5.When was the UN founded?
Q6.In 1948, the UN made a universal declaration on which topic?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the sentence starter to its end.
which aims to promote peace, security and international cooperation.
15 members, five permanent and 10 rotating.
is called the General Assembly.
Q2.Which of these is an observer and not a full member of the UN?
Q3.Which Nobel Peace Prize winning programme was created in 1961?
Q4.The UN can not pass laws. Instead, they pass what?
Q5.Which of these is not a permanent member of the Security Council?
Q6.Which islands did the UK refuse to return to Mauritius and thus cause an issue with the UN?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What is the UK's role in the United Nations?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What is the UK's role in the United Nations?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the How does the UK play a role in the international community? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.