Europe

Teachers Notes

Information BC - AD

Many countries of the world, including Europe, use the Christian calendar. This means that years are counted from the birth of Jesus Christ. Years which have passed after the birth are sometimes followed by the letters AD which is Latin for Anno Domini, meaning the Year of our Lord. For example 50 AD means 50 years after the birth of Christ. Dates without letters infer AD.


Years which passed before the birth of Christ are followed by BC. For example 50 BC means fifty years before Christ was born.

To find out how many years there are between BC and AD dates the two numbers must be added together. For example between 50 BC and 50 AD there are 100 years.

Sometimes dates are written with a 'c' (circa) in front of the number, for example c 1234. This means roughly about that time but not exactly that year.


Football and Ideas

Football provides an interesting approach to the study of Europe. Apart from International matches when country plays country many British clubs qualify for European Competitions. These are widely reported in the press and on TV . Further information can be readily obtained from the UEFA (Union of European Football Association) and club websites. Any matches involving European clubs provide topical reasons for "taking a glance" at that country and making comparisons with other countries and with our own.


A good way to start is to select one or two countries and create an "At A Glance" profile of each. To simplify what appears to be a complicated task the 25 countries of the European Union have been included.


Of course not all UEFA member countries are members of the European Union.

To make it easier to add other countries to your collection The following headings have been used though out.
  • Area
  • Capital
  • Population
  • Language
  • Density
  • Urban Population
  • Head of State
  • Government
  • Education
  • Religion
  • Currency
  • Landscape
  • Agriculture
  • Resources
  • Industry
  • National Flag
  • Joined EU


When creating a template as few or as many aspects of the country can be included as are necessary for the project.


Templates provide a uniform approach whether the work is undertaken by the class, groups or individuals. It is also easier to extract information to convert to graphs and charts and to compare country with country.


A map of Europe could be displayed in the classroom and small groups of children could each work on a different country. Their work including any graphs, flags and maps could be displayed around the classroom map. Obviously an adequate supply of appropriate books is required and perhaps a computer to create graphics and to collect information from web sites.


Task1

It is a good idea before starting this project to give children plenty of practice in the addition and subtraction necessary to quickly work with BC and AD dates. For example:

  • The Second World War started in 1939. How long ago is that?
  • It lasted 6 years. In which year did it end?
  • England was last invaded in 1066. How long ago is that?
  • 2006 - The First Cup final played at Wembley Stadium in 1923. How many years ago is that?


Task 2

In 1870 Charles Alcock, the Secretary of the Football Association wrote to the Glasgow Herald to announce that a team of English players was to play a Scottish team. Discuss with the class the likely contents of this letter then:

  • Write a letter to the Glasgow Herald as Charles Alcock may have written it.
  • Lay it out ( by hand or by computer) as it might have appeared in the newspaper.


TaskMap of Great Britain 3 - Worksheet 19

Explain the first official International and the formation of the first four FA's.


The children can then write a few sentences on the worksheet to explain
how one country - The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is represented in FIFA and UEFA by four different FA's.


Ensure the children understand the meaning of:

  • United Kingdom, British Isles, Great Britain,Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • British, English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish

and which of these words are interchangeable.


Note: In 1921 Ireland was partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland


On a map of the British Isles colour and name the four countries. Around the map draw the flag of each country and the flag of the United Kingdom.


Task 4

Everyone will need an atlas, a blank map of Europe and a list of the seven founder member countries of FIFA. These are Belgium, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

  • On the map colour in and name the seven countries
  • Write a few sentences to explain what FIFA is and why such an organisation is necessary for world football


Task 5 - Fill in the missing results

From 1884 to 1984 British International matches were played between England, Ireland (from 1921 Northern Ireland), Scotland and Wales. They played each other once each season. There was a maximum of 12 points to be won,two points were awarded for a win and one point for a draw.

  • Work out a fixture list for these matches for one season, i.e
  • England plays Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland;
  • Scotland plays Wales and Northern Ireland; and
  • Wales plays Northern ireland.


This is the table for 1982 - two years before this tournament ended.

Team

P

W

D

L

Pts

England



6

Scotland



3

Wales



2

N Ireland



1

Write the results in the boxes


Task 6

Draw the outlines of the cups on card. One way to enlarge them is to draw a grid and use this as a guide as shown below. Cut round the outlines and then cover the shapes with silver foil or paint them silver.

The European Cup

The European Cup
The UEFA Cup

The UEFA Cup

The Henri Delaunay Cup