Contextualization

The European Union is a political and economic union formed by 27 independent countries located in Europe. Initially called the European Economic Community (EEC), this organization was created in the aftermath of World War II, with the aim of maintaining peace and stability in the European continent, promoting the economic and social development of its member countries, ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as establishing a space for the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital.

Historically, the European Union is an economic bloc with a unique trajectory, which has gone through several stages, from the creation of a common market, the adoption of a single currency, the euro, to cooperation in various areas, such as politics and security. The EU is now a milestone in the history of cooperation and integration among countries, acting on different fronts, from issues of foreign policy and security to areas such as health, education, culture, and human rights.

The European Union is also recognized for its global influence, whether in the economic, political, or cultural field. Through its policies, the EU has contributed to shaping a New World.

Importance of the Topic

The European Union is an example of how collaboration and cooperation among different countries can lead to significant results. For its members, the EU promotes a common market that allows the free movement of goods, services, money, and people. It is also an important political actor, with a strong voice on international issues.

In an increasingly globalized world, understanding the functioning and implications of the EU is essential for any citizen. Whether to understand the context of international news, to perceive the nuances of your country's foreign policy, or even to plan a trip through Europe.

Practical Activity: 'Understanding the European Union: A Board Game!'

Project Objective

Create a board game that represents the main aspects of the European Union, addressing the following topics: history, member countries, institutions, economy, politics, culture, and current challenges.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students will be responsible for developing a board game related to the European Union, where each space on the board will represent a member country or a central theme (EU Institutions, Treaties, Euro, etc.). As players advance on the board, they discover curiosities, historical events, institutions, treaties, economic challenges, political debates, cultural influences, among other aspects of the EU.

Required Materials

• Large paper or cardboard for the game board.
• Pens, colored pencils, and/or markers.
• Pieces to represent the players (can be various small objects).
• Dice (if the chosen game model requires it).
• Question and answer cards (these can be prepared on small pieces of paper).

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Research: Each group should start by researching intensively about the European Union, covering the indicated topics. This research will be the basis for creating the game.

2. Game Planning: After the research, students should plan their game. They will need to decide on the rules, how to advance on the board, what happens when landing on each space, how to win the game, etc. It is important to remember that the game should be educational and encourage players to learn about the European Union.

3. Board Creation: With the planning in hand, groups should start creating the board. Each space on the board should be filled with a member country or a theme related to the EU. They can use images, symbols, colors, and texts to make the board informative and attractive.

4. Question Creation: After the board is ready, groups should create questions about each space on the board. The questions will be used during the game to teach players about the EU. They can be multiple-choice questions, true or false, open questions, etc.

5. Game Testing: After creating the game, groups should test it to make sure everything works and is fun to play. They can make adjustments as needed.

6. Report Preparation: Alongside the game creation, students should prepare a report on the project. The report should include: Introduction (with the contextualization of the theme and the project's objective), Development (with the theory behind the theme, detailed project description, methodology used, and discussion of results), Conclusion, and Bibliography.

Project Deliverables

The deliverables of this project will be:

1. The board game 'Understanding the European Union'.
2. A detailed report on the project.

Students will present the game in Geography classes, where they can explain the rules, play a demonstrative match, and clarify any doubts that may arise. In the report, they should detail the entire process of creating the game, from the initial research to the final production.

In the end, the games will be made available to the entire school so that other students can also learn about the European Union in a fun and playful way.