Understanding the United Nations: How Countries Work Together to Help People
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Grade Level: 3-5
Duration of Video: 3 minutes, 44 seconds
Themes:
Helping others
Global cooperation
Problem solving
Fairness
Asking thoughtful questions
Responsible citizenship
The United Nations (UN)
Civil Rights, World History
Photo: Children play in the fountains at Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in front of the United Nations building and the flags of many countries. Photo: UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
Description:
Students learn about the United Nations and how international organizations work together to help people during global challenges such as war, natural disasters, and displacement. Through a short video, discussion, and guided questioning, students examine what the UN is meant to do, how organizations attempt to solve problems, and why it is important to ask thoughtful questions about whether solutions are working effectively.
Video: Social Studies Shorts: United Nations (3:44)
Lesson Plan:
🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT)
Explain what the United Nations is.
Describe ways the UN tries to help people.
Identify types of help mentioned in the video.
Ask thoughtful questions about whether solutions are helping people.
Reflect on how individuals can help others.
🧰 MATERIALS:
Social Studies Shorts: United Nations
Student Worksheet 1: What Did We Learn About the United Nations? (Printed for each student or digital copy)
Whiteboard or SMARTboard
Paper or notebook for responses
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils for the drawing activity
📋 LESSON FLOW
Hook: Solving Big Problems Together
Teacher says:
“Sometimes problems are very big. Sometimes people in different countries need help because of war, natural disasters, or other emergencies.”
Ask students:
“Have you ever helped solve a problem with other people?”
“If a problem is very big, do you think one country can always solve it alone?”
Discuss.
Teacher, writes this on the board: United Nations.
Teacher says:
“Because some problems are very big, countries sometimes work together. One organization that helps countries work together is called the United Nations, or the UN. Today, we are going to learn what the United Nations is supposed to do and how it tries to help people around the world. As we learn, we will also think about an important question: If an organization says it wants to help people, how can we know if it really is helping?”
Watch Video
Say:
“As we watch a video about the United Nations, listen carefully for ways the UN tries to help people.”
Play video: Social Studies Shorts: United Nations
Partner Work
Hand out Student Worksheet 1: What Did We Learn About the United Nations? (Printed for each student or digital copy).
Students work with a seat partner to complete the worksheet together.
Teacher then brings the class back together.
Teach & Discuss
Teacher:
Review the worksheet with the class.
Clarify that the United Nations was created after World War II to help countries work together, prevent conflict, support peace, and respond to global challenges.
Explain that organizations like the UN are created because people want to solve problems and help others. It is important to learn how organizations work and ask thoughtful questions about whether their solutions are helping people.
Discuss the following
“What questions might you ask someone working in a global organization?”
“How could you tell if their work is helping people?”
“Do you think it is important to know if life is improving for the people they help?
“Would it be fair for the United Nations to help some people but not others?”
“Would it be fair for an organization like the United Nations to treat people differently because of their race, religion, culture, gender, or where they come from?”
Independent Activity
Students create a drawing showing diverse people receiving help from the United Nations.
Prompt for students:
“Draw a picture of the United Nations helping different kinds of people from a variety of countries, races, religions, nationalities, genders, etc.”
Show:
Who are the people?
What kind of help are they receiving?
How does the assistance improve their situation?
How might the people be feeling?
Students may share their drawings with the class.
Hang up the drawings on a designated wall in the classroom.
Assessment
Students demonstrate understanding through:
Completion of the worksheet
Participation in discussion
The drawing activity showing understanding of how people are helped
Teacher Notes
Keep the discussion focused on understanding, cooperation, and fairness (nothing political).
Reinforce that learning about organizations includes both understanding their goals and asking thoughtful questions about whether they are helping people effectively and fairly.
Encourage respectful discussion and curiosity about how global problems are solved.
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