COMMITTEE ON TEACHING ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS
UNITED
NATIONS
PICTURE
BOOKS:
A Picture Book of Eleanor
Roosevelt
by David A. Adler. NY: Holiday House, 1991.
The early life of Eleanor Roosevelt for primary aged children.
Three Promises to You
by Munro Leaf. Originally
published in the US by JP
Lippincott, 1957; in India,
2008 by Arvind Kumar Publishers www.arvindkumarpublishers.com and available in UN bookstores in Geneva and NY (in the
visitor’s lobby of the General Assembly (GA-32) or call
1-800-553-5210.) In a kind of coloring book format Leaf questions very
young children about their own differences, needs and fears, and explains how
these translate into the world family. One of the few really simplified efforts
to address the goals of the UN for primary age children.
UNICEF: United Nations
Children’s Fund
by Anastasia Suen. PowerKids Press, 2002. Part of the Helping Organizations
Series that also includes Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross, children
K-3 learn when the UN and UNICEF started, what it stands for, and some of the
ways it raises money and helps children and families worldwide. Includes
details on how children can be fundraisers (“trick or treat” for UNICEF)
Available through Amazon.com.
INTERMEDIATE
GRADES:
Enchantment of the World
Series
NY: Children’s Press, a division of Scholastic Inc. Individual
color-photo books devoted to many of the member states of the UN – also for
Middle School, provides great background information for young participants
in model UN
Lending a Helping Hand:
Humanitarian Relief Operations
by Roger Smith. Philadelphia:
Mason Crest Publishers, 2007. www.masoncrest.com Part of the Mason Crest series,
this chronicles one of the most successful roles of the UN, large-scale,
compassionate disaster relief, Colorful photo illustrations and
understandable text.
Stateswoman to the World: A
Story About Eleanor Roosevelt
by Maryann N. Weidt. Minneapolis:
Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1991 an easy to read large print bio with b&w
drawings.
United Nations –Peacekeepers?
by Edward Johnson. NY: Thomas Ning, 1995; UK: Wayland (Publishers) LTD. Part
of the Global Issues Series, provides not only a guide to the UN’s
peacekeeping missions around the globe, and the difficulties involved, but
acts as a springboard for discussions on the successes and failures of the UN
as peacekeepers.
The United Nations
by Stewart Ross. Chicago:
Raintree, a div. of Reed Elsevier, Inc., 2004. Part of the World Watch
Series, this is a critical but fair evaluation of the UN’s history and
efforts around the world. Covers the humanitarian work of the UN in addition
to the political –many colorful photos.
YOUNG
ADULT AND ADULT:
A Global Agenda: Issues
Before the United Nations 2009-2010
A compendium of very readable and critical essays, by internationally
recognized writers and editors, Sr. policy associates, ambassadors,
journalists and academics on current issues in which the UN is involved. A
publication of United Nations Assn/USAwww.unausa.org; adult
Everything You Always Wanted
To Know About the United Nations
A good introduction for middle and secondary school students-colorful,
informative, many visuals –an excellent resource for teachers as well. Part
of the School Kit provided by the Public Inquiries Unit, Dept. of Public
Information, United Nations, NY, NY 10017; Tel: 212-963-4475; E-mail: www.inquiries@un.org;
On the web at www.un.org/geninfo/faq
Hammarskjöld
by Brian Urquhart. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1972. The definitive, in depth and
well-documented account of the second and perhaps most revered
Secretary-General’s years at the United Nations, until his death in a plane
crash in 1961, by a former Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, who
describes him as “that most unusual of creatures, a truly good man.” Some
wonderful anecdotes here, of Hammarskjöld’s use of personal diplomacy, when
11 American airmen were shot down over China, Kruschev’s shoe-banging episode
in the General Assembly, as well as the struggles in the Middle East, Hungary,
and finally the Congo, which cost Hammarskjöld his life.
Markings by Dag Hammarskjöld
NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964. Translated from the Swedish Vägmärken. Stockholm: Bonniers,
1963. Hammarskjöld’s spiritual journal, poetic and elusive in spots, which
never mentions the UN, but is essential to understanding the personal side of
the man, and his mindset during many of the crises in which he was involved.
Many entries are dated, which helps in correlation.
Ralph Bunche: An American
Odyssey
by Brian Urquhart. 1993. Available through amazon.com. This is the first
major biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Bunche, by his closest assistant
from 1954-71, who was given access to Bunche’s private papers by the
Bunche family. Urquhart brings to life this “Jackie Robinson of American
Diplomacy” who was at times, treated as a second-class citizen in his own
country.
Kofi Annan: A Man of Peace in
a World of War
by Stanley
Meisler. John Wiley & Sons, 2007. Considered a “readable, wise, balanced
and thoughtful” portrait of the widely admired 7th Secretary General. Drawing
on personal interviews with Annan, as well as numerous friends, UN
colleagues, diplomats and world leaders, Meisler, a long time and respected
reporter on the UN, examines the undeniable achievements of this remarkable
man, as well as events like the Iraq War and his son’s participation in the
Oil for Food scandal that threatened to undermine his credibility.
Man Without a Gun
by Giandomenico Pico. A real page-turner, chronicles the efforts of the
author, an Italian diplomat working almost single-handedly with
Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar to rescue Lebanese hostages in
1992; in spots his adventures read like a spy novel; yet his diplomacy with
the leader of Hezbollah, ultimately winning his respect, is an example of
what can be accomplished if people have the courage to talk with one another.
Out of print, but available in libraries.
The United Nations: The First
Fifty Years
by Stanley
Meisler. “A strikingly readable behind- the -scenes account of the UN’s first
half century” “sprinkled with rich anecdotes of a colorful cast of
characters, warts and all.” Available through amazon.com.
UN Jigsaw
by Wilfred Grey. NY: Vantage Press, 2000. A wonderfully observant and
wide-ranging overview, accurately defining the growing role of civil society
in partnership with the UN system. Pays special attention to the role of
women and people from developing countries. Available at the UN bookstore.
1-800-553-5210.
SUGGESTED
TEACHER RESOURCES
Model UN
A simulation for Middle School, High School and college students. See the
following websites for an overview, FAQs, How to start a Model UN club, How
to Plan for a Model UN Conference, Research Tips etc.: www.unausa.org/modelun101, andwww.un.org/cyberschoolbus/modelun/index.asp You can also google Model UN for
examples of Model UN programs done at various schools and universities. See
also Global Model UN,
an initiative of the Educational Outreach Division of the United Nations
Department of Public Information (UNDPI); for 1,000 university students;
rotates annually among all regions of the world ensuring geographical
diversity and gender balance. www.un.org/gmun or contact Yvonne Acosta, Chief
of Educational Outreach DPI, 212-936-7214, acostay@un.org
Posters
A large variety available from the Public Inquiries desk on the ground floor
of the General Assembly, across from the coffee shop call 212-963-4475.
School Kits
This is separate from the School Kit envelope provided by the Dept. of Public
Information. Designed by teachers for teachers, these three books, intended
for primary, intermediate and secondary levels, contain a selection of texts
and activities arranged thematically. Check with Public Inquiries.
Speakers Bureau
Invite a UN speaker to your classroom in person or via video conference, or
arrange a briefing for your students at UN Headquarters (Minimum age: 14)
email www.unitg@un.orgor
call 212- 963-7710.
UN Chronicle
A quarterly, easy-to-read magazine-covering a range of UN activities.
Suitable for high school and above. Available in the UN Bookstore or online
at www.un.org/chronicle
MEDIA
RESOURCES
A Common Goal
This film introduces and explains what the United Nations is and how it
operates using a soccer game as a metaphor. Using footage from all over the
world, the program explains the concepts of peacekeeping and human rights and
defines the UN’s role in these areas. It also explains what the General
Assembly and Security Council do and how they work. For elementary and
intermediate students. Available from Films for the Humanities and Sciences: www.ffh.films.com or call 1-800-257-5126.
60 Ways the UN Makes a
Difference
This DVD presents, through the voices of young people around the world, a
sampling of what the UN and its agencies have accomplished since 1945, and
the vast array of its undertakings. Available in the UN Bookstore -call
1800-553-5210, or in book form from UN Publications at http://unp.un.org
A VirtualTour of the United
Nations
On CD Rom – contains 150 interactive panoramas, more than 2 hrs. video, 114
gifts and artworks, the history of the UN, over 40 interviews, and a tour of
UN Headquarters. For Mac OSX-3.9 and later or Windows 2000/XP. From Spinning
Eye LTD. www.spinningeye.com
Visions of a Secretary
General: Dag Hammarskjöld and the United Nations 1953-1961
A finely –tuned portrait using newly recorded interviews, and archival film
and photo material gives a sense of Dag Hammarskjöld as a person, his
struggles during the cold War and his death in a plane crash in Africa. Available in English and Swedish on DVD from
the UN Bookstore, or from Athena Films www.athenafilms.se
Core Concepts of the MDG’s
A self-paced UN Interagency course, available on DVD with an accompanying
book, for teaching the 8 Millenium Development Goals. Available from the
United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) UN Development Group Office 1 UN Plaza
NY, NY
10017 212-906-5885 www.undg.org
LINKS
TO OTHER SITES
United Nations Homepage.
Links to all UN Departments and up-to-date news and activities in the six
official languages.http://www.un.org
Center for UN Reform
Education (CURE)
www.centerforunreform.org An umbrella organization founded in 1978 to
generate interest in, and report on, proposals that have the potential to
improve and strengthen the UN System.
Cyber School Bus
A variety of resources, activities and information for teachers and students
in all grades, including a video contest for students to express their own
views of what could be done to save the world. http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org
.©
2010 CTAUN - Committee on Teaching About the United Nations
 UN/USA MAGAZINE, THE INTERDEPENDENT
Here is what readers were
offered recently in The Interdependent ( www.theinterdependent.com),
an online publication brought to you by the United Nations Association of
the USA and the United Nations Foundation:
 UN Dispatch, a blog edited by Mark Leon Goldberg, providing
daily commentary and coverage on the UN;
· What Germany,
India, South Africa have planned for
their two-year terms on the Security Council: “The New Players at the Table,” by Barbara Crossette,
Irwin Arieff and Helmut Volger.
· New ICC Memo blog posts covering the court’s Assembly of
States Parties conference in December at the UN.
Since its founding in 1973, The Interdependent has provided valuable
information on news and features at the UN. This online journal is one of the
best ways to get up-to-date news and feature articles about the UN.
To read The ID, go to www.theinterdependent.com, and while you’re there, become a member of UNA-USA, which is now part of the
United Nations Foundation, to help support its cause of connecting the UN to
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