Postwar world · 1945-1948

1945: the founding of the United Nations

Before the Second World War had even ended, delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to found the United Nations. Students locate the UN's main cities, test how the Security Council works and read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
45 minutes
Ages
12–15
On the map
3 steps, AD 1945
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

Before the Second World War had even ended, delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to found the United Nations. Students locate the UN's main cities, test how the Security Council works and read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Explain why the Allies created the United Nations in 1945.
  • Describe how the Security Council works, including the veto of the five permanent members.
  • Explain what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 promises.
2

Explore the map

12 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1945

A world at war

Open the map in 1945 and zoom out to see the whole world. Ask the atlas: "Which countries founded the United Nations in 1945?" Which large parts of the world had no seat of their own?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1945

San Francisco

Zoom in on San Francisco on the Pacific coast of the United States. Delegates met here from April to June 1945. Why might the organizers choose a city far from the fighting in Europe?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1945

UN cities

Find New York, Geneva and The Hague. Ask the atlas: "Which parts of the United Nations are based in New York, Geneva and The Hague?"

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

14 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. The League of Nations had failed to stop the Second World War. What did the founders of the UN try to do differently?
  2. Five countries have a veto in the Security Council. Is that fair? Why did they insist on it?
  3. Most of Africa and much of Asia were still colonies in 1945. Whose voices were missing in San Francisco?
  4. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Which right do you think matters most?
  5. By 2010 the UN had 192 members. Has it made the world safer? Give one example for and one against.
4

Game round

9 min

Play one round of Rule History as Augustus, who promised a long peace after years of war. Then compare: Augustus kept the peace with one empire and one army. How did the founders of the UN try to keep peace among many independent countries?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

€19 per month unlocks every worksheet, every live lesson and the class workspace. The free lesson prints without a subscription.