Background

The European Union (EU) is a supranational organization currently made up of 27 member states, including some of the world's wealthiest nations. The EU aims to promote peace, values, and the well-being of its citizens; offer freedom, security, and justice without internal borders; encourage technological and scientific advancement; combat unemployment; promote social and economic progress, among other things.

The EU was created in the aftermath of World War II, a period marked by many international challenges and tensions. Its emergence represented a European response to this situation and an effort to ensure peace, promote economic and political cooperation, and avoid new armed conflicts on the continent. Since then, the EU has played an increasingly important role on the international stage, influencing political, economic, and cultural issues worldwide.

Understanding the EU and its role in global geopolitics is central to a deeper and more complete grasp of contemporary international relations. By understanding the EU, its goals, policies, and actions, it is possible to critically analyze how European power and hegemony have been exercised in various regions of the planet, and how the EU influences, and is influenced by, global events and processes.

Here are some resources that can be used to deepen your knowledge of the EU.

1. Official website of the European Union

2. History of the European Union - Sua Pesquisa Portal

3. Paixão, L.C. European Union: from the "almost" state to the "almost" collapse. International Context, Volume 37, Number 2, Pages 537-577, 2015.

Based on these materials, and any other sources you find relevant, groups will carry out a practical activity related to the EU, which will be detailed in the next section.

Practical Activity

Title of the Activity: "The European Union's Journey: A Virtual Tour"

Project Objective

The goal of this project is to create an interactive presentation, in the form of a virtual tour, that explores the history, geography, politics, culture, and economy of the European Union (EU).

Detailed Project Description

Each group is responsible for creatively presenting the fundamental concepts surrounding the EU and its influence on the world. Use thematic maps, graphics, images, videos, and other media to make the presentation engaging and informative. Students should integrate their acquired knowledge of the EU with their research, communication, and collaboration skills.

Materials Needed

1. Computer with internet access.
2. Presentation software (such as PowerPoint, Prezi, or online tools like Google Slides).
3. Access to online or physical libraries for research.
4. Image and video editing tools (optional).

Step-by-step guide for the activity

1. Research and Planning (2-3 hours): Start the activity with thorough research on the EU. Develop an outline for the presentation, dividing the topics among group members. Research should include historical, political, economic, cultural, and geographical aspects of the EU. Within these topics, each group should focus on studying the two or three key theoretical concepts about the EU that were covered in the lessons.

2. Developing the Virtual Tour (4-6 hours): Each group member should create their assigned part of the presentation. Be sure to include images, maps, graphs, and other media to make the presentation more engaging and informative. Slides should be clearly labeled and text should be accurate and easy to understand.

3. Review and Rehearsal (1-2 hours): Once the virtual tour is created, do a group review to ensure cohesion and quality of work. Do a rehearsal to allow all members to feel comfortable presenting their part.

Project Deliverables

1. Virtual Tour: The main deliverable of this project is the Virtual Tour. It should be recorded and submitted for the teacher's assessment.

2. Written Report: In addition to the Virtual Tour, students should write a report that includes:

• Introduction: Contextualize the topic, explaining why it is relevant and describing the goal of the project.

• Development: The theory behind the key concepts of the project, the methodology used, and an analysis of the results obtained in the Virtual Tour.

• Conclusion: Review of the main points covered, lessons learned, and any conclusions drawn from the project.

• Bibliography: All sources used to research and create the Virtual Tour should be listed here.

The written report should be clear, concise, and well-organized, demonstrating students' writing, argumentation, and analytical and synthesis skills. This report will form the basis for the theoretical assessment of the activity and should be submitted along with the Virtual Tour.