About
Grades 8-12 participate in a mock United Nations Conference. Students or groups of students are assigned a Country to represents and then tasked with World Issues. Countries negotiate to create resolution to global issues. Model United Nations, also known as Model UN , or MUN, is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. MUN involves and teaches research, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.
Skills
- knowledge and respect of other countries and their viewpoints
- how to develop peaceful resolutions
- sharpen research, writing and speaking skills
- develop a lifelong interest in international affairs
Model UN Website
See the calendar for conference times.
See the calendar for conference times.
Helpful Documents
How To Write a Position Paper
how_to_write_a_position_paper.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Model UN Glossary
model_un_glossary.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Model United Nations Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Model United Nations?
A: Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization's agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student "delegates" make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure - all in the interest of mobilizing "international cooperation" to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world. Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their committee will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation when the role playing gets under way. The delegates' in-depth knowledge of their countries guarantees a lively and memorable experience.
Q: How did Model UN begin?
A: While there is no official record of how Model UN began, we do know that Model UN is the successor of a series of student-led Model League of Nations simulations. Some people believe that the first Model UN conference was held at Harvard University, although other colleges claim they held the first conference. Regardless, simulations of international organizations began even before the birth of the United Nations!
Q: What are some of the educational benefits of Model UN?
A: For almost 60 years, teachers and students have benefited from and enjoyed this interactive learning experience. It not only involves young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the development of skills useful throughout their lives, such as negresearch, writing, public speaking, problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and compromise and cooperation.
Q: What is the role of a Model UN faculty advisor?
A: The faculty advisor is a teacher who takes responsibility for students when the team attends a Model UN conference. Usually the faculty advisor should be fully committed to Model UN, but he or she does not need prior Model UN experience. This person should be able to assist students with their research, serve as a coach during the conference and assist with all of the logistics of attending a conference.
Q: What is a Model UN conference?
A: Some Model UN exercises take place in the classroom and others are school-wide. Model UN events that are regional, national or international are called conferences. Conferences are much larger, with participants from all over the United States and the world. More than one million people have participated in Model UN conferences around the world since they became popular over 50 years ago. Today there are more than 400 conferences that take place in 52 countries. Conference can have as few as 30 students or as many as 3,000.
Q: When and where are Model UN conferences held?
A: There are an estimated 400 Model UN conferences held annually worldwide. These conferences take place virtually every month throughout the school year, with fewer events during the summer and standardized testing dates.
Credit: www.unausa.org
A: Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization's agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student "delegates" make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure - all in the interest of mobilizing "international cooperation" to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world. Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their committee will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation when the role playing gets under way. The delegates' in-depth knowledge of their countries guarantees a lively and memorable experience.
Q: How did Model UN begin?
A: While there is no official record of how Model UN began, we do know that Model UN is the successor of a series of student-led Model League of Nations simulations. Some people believe that the first Model UN conference was held at Harvard University, although other colleges claim they held the first conference. Regardless, simulations of international organizations began even before the birth of the United Nations!
Q: What are some of the educational benefits of Model UN?
A: For almost 60 years, teachers and students have benefited from and enjoyed this interactive learning experience. It not only involves young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the development of skills useful throughout their lives, such as negresearch, writing, public speaking, problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and compromise and cooperation.
Q: What is the role of a Model UN faculty advisor?
A: The faculty advisor is a teacher who takes responsibility for students when the team attends a Model UN conference. Usually the faculty advisor should be fully committed to Model UN, but he or she does not need prior Model UN experience. This person should be able to assist students with their research, serve as a coach during the conference and assist with all of the logistics of attending a conference.
Q: What is a Model UN conference?
A: Some Model UN exercises take place in the classroom and others are school-wide. Model UN events that are regional, national or international are called conferences. Conferences are much larger, with participants from all over the United States and the world. More than one million people have participated in Model UN conferences around the world since they became popular over 50 years ago. Today there are more than 400 conferences that take place in 52 countries. Conference can have as few as 30 students or as many as 3,000.
Q: When and where are Model UN conferences held?
A: There are an estimated 400 Model UN conferences held annually worldwide. These conferences take place virtually every month throughout the school year, with fewer events during the summer and standardized testing dates.
Credit: www.unausa.org