What is Model United Nations?
MUN supports student outcomes in language arts, social studies, and college and career readiness
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In Model United Nations, students step into the shoes of world leaders and solve global problems
How Model United Nations supports language arts and social studies
Let’s follow the story of Rebecca — a 9th grade girl from Texas who is going to participate in her first MUN conference.
Rebecca is going to represent the country of Canada on the topic of climate change in a committee of the UN General Assembly.
Rebecca’s goal is to present Canada’s climate change policy, and then work with other students to find solutions to climate change.
READING & RESEARCH SKILLS
Before the conference, Rebecca has to research Canada’s climate change policy.She goes online to find climate change-related websites, speeches by Canada’s leaders, and UN reports and resolutions.
Rebecca prints out this information and organizes it into a research binder.
To prepare for the conference, Rebecca writes a 2-page position paper summarizing Canada’s climate change policy.Rebecca shares this paper with her MUN advisor and the older students in her MUN club to get feedback.
Based on this paper, Rebecca also writes a short, 1-minute speech that she will deliver at the conference.
WRITING SKILLS
PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS
The day of the conference arrives. Rebecca goes to her committee room and finds there are about 30 other students, each representing a different country.Each student takes turns giving 1-minute speeches on their country’s climate change policy. Rebecca gives a speech about Canada’s position.
When all students have given their speeches, they engage in an open discussion on climate change.They take turns asking each other questions and debating different approaches to combating climate change.
Rebecca listens to other students and determines which countries share a climate change policy that is similar to Canada’s.
LISTENING & DEBATE SKILLS
COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION
Rebecca meets with other students that share similar climate change policies.They work together to write a resolution on what the UN should do about climate change.
Rebecca’s group presents their resolution to other students and argue for why the UN should support their resolution.
There are multiple resolutions, including Rebecca’s. Students listen to presentations on each resolution, debate their merits, and then decide which resolutions they support.Finally, students vote on each resolution. Some pass, some don’t.
Because of her hard work preparing for the simulation and working with other students, Rebecca’s resolution passes, and she feels a huge sense of pride.
CRITICAL THINKING
DISCUSSION, REFLECTION & ACTION
After the simulation, students discuss what they learned about climate change and their different countries.They reflect on their experience and determine for themselves whether the world can work together to solve global problems.
A few students, including Rebecca, discuss potential projects to raise awareness about climate change in their school and local community.
Model United Nations is an educational activity where students are authentically engaged and motivated to learn.
Throughout the activity, students practice language arts and communication skills.
And by the end of the activity, student leaders such as Rebecca are inspired to take action.
Educators see how MUN empowers student leaders and prepares them for college
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