Teaching European Citizenship through Lively and Engaging Activities
Diversity, human rights, democracy, human dignity, equality, justice, tolerance, solidarity and peace are at the heart of education for European citizenship and the real challenge for us, teachers, is to make these abstract concepts accessible to our pupils. Helping pupils to explore European citizenship and connecting it to their lives are the keys to a thorough understanding of the issue.
Opportunities to teach European citizenship exist in all school subjects. Thanks to the European workshops and projects I have participated in so far, I have been able to develop an integrated EFL, Civics and ICT curriculum for an optional course and give my pupils the opportunity not only to practise their English and ICT skills, but also to help them acquire the knowledge they need in order to become informed, active and responsible European citizens.
The goals of the lessons within my optional course are to teach pupils English and ICT, to make them aware of their fundamental rights and responsibilities in the European Union and to give them the tools they need to make good changes in their own lives, as well as those of their families and communities.
Here are some engaging activities that foster European citizenship in pupils:
1. Have your pupils play the Spring Day in Europe board game. Its aim is to improve pupils’ knowledge of the EU (symbols, member and applicant/candidate states, institutions etc.) and motivate them to work in groups and practise their communication skills in English. 2. Invite local leaders to share their knowledge of the European Union or take part in the chats with European experts, hosted by the Spring Day in Europe 2006 website and encourage your pupils to learn, discuss and have their say on European issues. 3. Encourage your pupils to contribute to the Web-based activity called Local Treasures and hosted by the myEUROPE web site. Its aim is to help pupils learn to preserve local customs, traditions and festivals and to respect and value their own culture as well as other people's cultures. 4. Have your pupils learn and check their knowledge of the European Union by using the interactive learning objects created by the myEUROPE teacher group 5. Encourage your pupils to participate in the activity called Decide for Europe. Its aim is to help them better understand how the EU institutions work and learn to argue, listen to others and respect different opinions. 6. Have your pupils create PowerPoint presentations to teach younger pupils about the European Union. 7. Encourage your pupils to participate in community service projects, such as volunteering for charity activities.
It is my hope that teachers will integrate the activities presented here into their teaching to enhance their pupils’ learning about Europe in general and the European Union in particular and to help them become well-informed and responsible European citizens who respect and value diversity and who are willing to act in order to make Europe a more equitable and sustainable place.
The goals of the lessons within my optional course are to teach pupils English and ICT, to make them aware of their fundamental rights and responsibilities in the European Union and to give them the tools they need to make good changes in their own lives, as well as those of their families and communities. 
It is my hope that teachers will integrate the activities presented here into their teaching to enhance their pupils’ learning about Europe in general and the European Union in particular and to help them become well-informed and responsible European citizens who respect and value diversity and who are willing to act in order to make Europe a more equitable and sustainable place.
