🌍 Social StudiesGrade 4Lesson 38
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Model United Nations role-play

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Explain what the United Nations is and why it was created
  • 2Describe how democratic processes and elections work
  • 3Identify the different levels of government (local, national, international)
  • 4Explain the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy
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Mini Lesson

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 with the goal of maintaining world peace, promoting human rights, and encouraging cooperation between countries. A Model United Nations (MUN) role-play lets students practice diplomacy — speaking for a country and working with others to solve global problems.

What Is the United Nations?

  • Founded in 1945 after World War II with 51 original member nations.
  • Today, 193 countries are members of the UN.
  • The UN has six main organs, including the General Assembly and the Security Council.
  • The UN works on peace, health, education, climate, and humanitarian aid.
  • UN Headquarters is in New York City, USA.

Democracy and Government Levels

  • Democracy — a system where citizens vote to choose their leaders and make decisions.
  • Local government — manages services like roads, parks, and waste collection in your town or city.
  • National government — makes laws and decisions for the whole country.
  • International organizations (like the UN) — help countries cooperate on global problems.

Rights and Responsibilities

  • Rights — entitlements every person has, such as freedom of speech, education, and safety.
  • Responsibilities — duties citizens have, such as obeying laws, paying taxes, and voting.
  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) lists the basic rights of all people worldwide.
UN Member Countries GlobeUN Member Countries (193)EuropeAsiaAfricaAmericasOceaniaUN1945193 member nations work together
How the UN Makes DecisionsHow the UN Makes DecisionsIssue is raisedCountries bring a problemDebate in AssemblyCountries share viewsResolution writtenA solution is proposedVote takenMajority decidesAction takenCountries cooperateDemocracy through discussion and voting
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Tip: in a democracy, the PEOPLE have the power — they elect leaders to represent them. Remember: demo = people, cracy = rule.

Vocabulary
United Nations
An international group where countries meet to discuss problems and work together.e.g. The United Nations was created after World War II.
democracy
A government in which people choose their leaders by voting.e.g. In a democracy, every citizens vote counts.
election
A process where people vote to choose leaders.e.g. The country held an election for president.
government
The group that makes and enforces a countrys rules.e.g. The local government takes care of the parks.
citizen
A person who is a member of a country with rights and duties.e.g. Citizens vote and pay taxes.
international
Involving more than one country.e.g. International groups help solve global problems.
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