What is the EU? | The European Union | Topics | Institutions | Activities |
Projects
Here are some suggestions for projects you can share. Using material and research from this website you could make a video or podcast to explain you opinion and to try to influence others. Maybe they can be shown to the rest of your class or school – be sure to ask your teacher for help and advice!
Maps
See here for useful maps of the European Union to use in your projects. There are also many more images on the Europa website – See here
Images
The EU websites audiovisual services have images online that you can use for your school projects. Here is a selection of images to get you started, See here for a selection of EU Flags on Europa – the European Commission Website.
See here for a selection of photographs of EU Capitals on Europ
Write your script
A script is essential before you start to film so you know what you need to record. Follow the guidelines below.
A Title
This helps to focus the information
Who or what will be in your film?
The list of characters or interviewees, or this might be a list of important places or objects.
The basic script
In general one A4 page of script is equal to one minute of film
Start each sentence of you script with the words:
‘now we see a ………’
And then add some description.
In general less is more! Try to edit what you write at the end to avoid any repetitions for example.
The movie shot list
This is the complete list of ‘shots’ or bits of filming that you will need to do. Once you have a detailed shot list made you are ready to begin.
Shot List
This will be your guideline when you make your film.
Every single shot you need is written on the list. And it must be in the correct order too!
Afterwards you can decide to film some of the shots at the same time if that makes sense – for example all the head shots.
Here’s some headings to get you started –
- First Shot – the opening – what exactly are you going to see here?
- Second shot – maybe a context or background shot is next – describe it here.
- Third shot – Close up – maybe of someone talking ‘to camera’
- Third shot – pull away to show … more people maybe?
- And so on……
….Think of the Shot List as your recipe for making your movie / documentary / animation / news broadcast. Once you have everything planned it is much easier and more efficient to get everything recorded. You will know in advance what you need to have ready too, people, props – maybe graphs or images too.
Make a news report for Radio or Podcast
Think about the news broadcasts you hear on the radio everyday. Why not make one?
Follow these guidelines to get started.
Make a news report for Radio or Podcast
Getting started.
Think about your topic. What would you like to tell people about? Why is it important?
Brainstorm to get some general ideas and – very important – some questions. This is your starting point.
Then do some research to find out more background information about your topic.
Plan out your main ideas. Decide what are the most important parts of the story.
Make sure you know exactly what you want to tell people. Your story must be especially clear because people will be listening to it not reading it.
The script
Most radio news stories are about 2-3 minutes long. This takes about 90 words.
You can use a normal speaking voice, it doesn’t have to be formal.
It is best to keep sentences short. Try to make only one point in each. This is easier for listeners to follow.
Emphasise the most important parts.
Interviews
Use interviews and sound clips to keep it interesting
Remember to tell the audience who said what.
You can also quote what someone else has said, but be sure to say who you are quoting and to make sure it is correct.
Finally
Have all the materials handy and in order before you begin.
Read your script out loud a few times to make sure it sounds good.
Make any last minute changes
You are now ready to record your broadcast.
Remember you can also do some editing after you have made the sound recording before you make it public.
See here for detailed ‘how to’ guidance from the BBC
Make a documentary
Make a documentary about something important in your area or life that you care about.
Make a documentary about something important in your area or life that you think matters a lot. Start with your own ideas – maybe brainstorm with your group first – and also be sure to do some research before you begin.
Interviews
Who can you interview? People are going to be your best resource. Especially if you are interested in local history or events. Who do you know that you could ask, maybe neighbours or grandparents? Be sure to get their permission first – ask your teacher for help and advice about this too.
Maps and Historic Documents.
Are there any interesting or useful maps or old documents, maybe archive movies or old photographs that might be of interest too?
‘Facts and Stats‘
If you can find statistics and precise facts to quote this will always make your position stronger. The difficult part is making these interesting! Think about odd or funny images you could use to illustrate a point, or a way to take complicated numbers and present them as a simple diagram or graph – this can add a bit of colour too!
Style
This is up to you! Just remember that your documentary must be interesting, clear and easy to understand, and good to look at. Modern documentary makers use all sorts of methods in their films, including animation, historical footage, music and voice-overs. Don’t forget to ask your teacher for help too.
Convince me!
There is no such thing as a President of the whole EU – but if there was such a role, who would you think would be a good choice? Who would you choose as your candidate?
Is it someone already in the public eye?
Whoever they are must be suitable to be a public figurehead. They would be the public face of the EU.
Make your case!
If you can record this as a video (ask your teacher) a selection of these can be put together and shown to everyone. Then a vote can be taken to see whose candidate might win.
Journalist Project
You have been asked by your local paper to write a news story. What topic do you think is important?
Follow these guidelines to get started.
Getting started.
Think about where your story is going to be published. Who is going to read it?
If it is a particular local newspaper or magazine have a look at how they do things already.
How long are their news stories? Do they have a particular style of telling these stories?
You will need to make sure your story is suitable for wherever it is going to be published.
What is your news story about?
Think about your topic.
Brainstorm to get some general ideas and – very important – some questions. This is your starting point.
Then do some research to find out more about your topic. You will need to have information about it.
Think about the people who are going to read your story too, what will keep them interested?
Make sure your main point is clear and that you know exactly what you want to tell people.
Interviews
You can also interview people and ask them for a quote. Be sure to say who you are quoting and to make sure it is correct.
Images
Select any images you want to include in your news story. Make sure that they help to explain your ideas.
They should add to what you are saying, maybe they illustrate it or even add something extra.
You can also use diagrams or graphs.
Check any captions you might need to use on the images (copyright, names, titles)
Writing your news story
You will need a good introduction, something that makes people want to read the rest.
Keep it simple and be sure to explain things clearly.
Keep sentences short.
Use paragraphs. Each one should have its own point. When you want to talk about a new idea, start a new paragraph as well. This helps people to follow what you are saying.
The last paragraph should tie up everything you have said before into a tidy main point.
Finally
Double check your news story for any typos – it is always best to get someone else to do this as they have a ‘fresh eye’.
Decide on a good title for your news story.
You are now ready to publish.
See here for an article about how to write journalism from the Guardian newspaper
Write the Official Biography
Someone from the past or present of the EU is coming to your school to be given an award. A biography is needed.
Choose someone and write the story of their life. Who are they? What did they do that is interesting? What else about them might be of interest.
Have a look at some of the people associated with the EU on the People section of this website. HERE.
Slogans R us
You have been asked to write a slogan to promote the protection of the environment.
First think of an important message
Next brainstorm to find a long list of possible useful words – go back and read the information about you chosen topic for inspiration.
Write out all the interesting words
Now start to combine them to make your slogan. It should be short and snappy, and if it can rhyme that’s all the better.
If the institution was a person
Select one of the EU institutions and write a pretend profile of it as if you are writing about a person – is this an interview or a biography?
What is the name of your chosen subject?
Where do they live?
What does their home look like?
What might they wear?
What do you think would be their favourite food?
What about music or books – what might they listen to or read. Can you suggest why?
What is their favourite achievement?
Flash Fiction
Flash Fiction – the shortest of short stories
This is a very very short story – usually the word limit is 300 words – but it will still tell a story about something.
There will not be many spare words so it is important to get to the main ‘action’ or point as soon as possible, it can have a beginning, middle and end – but you will have to be very efficient. Select every word to have maximum impact and to keep the story moving along.
Start by thinking of what topic you would like it to be about, then maybe do a bit of brainstorming – or just jump in. See what works best.
The important thing is to have a point, something you want to tell about – tell a tale that needs to be told. You can be as imaginative as you like.
Write a Haiku
There are very precise rules about how many words can be used and how a Haiku should be written.
The poem is very short with three lines in total. It follows a precise structure. The First line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, the third line has five syllables.
Usually the poem is about something observed or noticed. Japanese poets would meet to go for a walk and then write a Haiku on something they had seen that inspired them.
A Selection of Material
Here you will find a selection of material – some news items, some interesting resources and links to other websites.
European Space Agency
See here for the Link to the ESA homepage . The Galileo Satellite is an EU Programme.
See here to track ESA missions
Link here to view the EU-Tube video about the EU Space Programme – (it may be slow to load)
Europeana
Europeana is the website portal to online collections from many of the most famous museums and art galleries across the EU as well as some you may not have heard of.
Select this link to go to Europeana
Motorbikers Protest at Rule Change
The EU Commission is proposing new rules for Motorbikes.
There are protests against the proposal all over Europe by Motorbike riders who object to it. They say the new rules will make it more expensive to run a motor bike, but more importantly, that it will prevent the tradition of customising their own motorbikes however they like.
the EU Commission hold the view that the rules are for making it safer for motorbike and other road users and raising environmental protection standards.
The EU commission has published this information called a Citizens summary. You can read it here.
The name of the proposal is:
Reference: COD/2010/0271
Two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles: approval and market surveillance (repeal. Directives 93/14/EEC, 93/30/EEC, 93/33/EEC, 93/93/EEC, 95/1/EC, 97/24/EC, 2000/7/EC, 2002/24/EC, 2002/51/EC, 2009/62/EC, 2009/67/EC, 2009/78/EC, 2009/79/EC, 2009/80/EC and 2009/139/EC)
You can follow it’s progress through the EU Institutions here
Iceland Volcano power deal with the UK
Iceland is discussing sending ‘volcano’ power to the UK by cable. The proposal is to build an undersea cable to Scotland. It would be 730 miles long and would be the longest ever built so far.
A Geothermal Generator
Iceland generates electricity from volcanic activity using Geo-thermal Plants which use the heat to make steam to turn the turbines. They also use hydro-electric generation.
These would be renewable sources of energy, but there is still some controversy about how much impact there would be on the environment with the building of new pipes and roads.
It would supply green energy and be a part of the planned EU Energy ‘Super-grid’ across north Europe including EU and non-EU countries.
Footballers
Footballers can travel for their work too thanks to the Bosman court case. Footballers must be allowed to travel for their work the same as every other EU citizen.
In 1995 there was an important ruling form the Court of Justice of the Eureopan Union which changed the way Transfer Rules could be applied. This was called the Bosman case.
As a result of this case players could change clubs more easily as soon as a contract ended.
Before the Bosman case football clubs were not allowed to have no more than three foreign players on their team (and two more if they had come from their youth training programmes) – but after Bosman, teams could have as many as they wanted form eU countries.
These changes allowed players to have more bargaining power over their fees and for teams to be multinational.
Pub Landlady
Pub Landlady on the way to winning the right to use cheaper TV satellite service
An English Pub Landlady took a case to the Court of Justice of the European Union to defend her right to buy her TV satellite service from a Greek supplier that was less expensive than a UK supplier.
The landlady of the Red, White and Blue pub in Britain used a Greek decoder card to show Premier League games on TV in her pub. The UK TV satellite provider objected.
The Court decided that it should be possible for someone to use a TV satellite service from anywhere withing the EU, but exactly what can be watched is still being discussed!!
Still, this may yet produce less expensive satellite TV access for everyone.
EUTube
The EU has it’s own video selection for you to browse!
The videos change so be sure to ask your teacher before you go to this website so as to be sure to find the right thing.