Lesson Two- How does England fit into the United Kingdom and

the British Isles?

Aims:

•An ability to locate England within the British Isles.

• Knowledge of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.

Citizenship Criteria

• Understanding the diverse nature of identity in Britain

• Improving research skills

Starter- Look at the next two slides:

The British Islesshowing the three nations of GreatBritain andthe islandof Ireland

The United Kingdomis made up of four nationsEngland,Wales,Scotland,and NorthernIreland. It doesnot include theRepublic ofIreland.

Starter Continued • Q: What are the names of the countries that

make up Great Britain?

• A: (on worksheet)

• Q: How are the British Isles and the UK different?

• A:

  Q: What are the names of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom?

• A:

Main Activity 1

In groups of four give each person a role as one of Wales, England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Use the next four slides and your own knowledge to create a fact-file (on the worksheet) on each of the nations in the UK. Be ready to tell your group and the class what you have found out.

Kingdom of England 48 million peoplehttp://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/facts.htm

• Capital = London• Language = English• Flower = Rose• Flag of Saint George• Heraldic Symbol = Three

Lions• National Dish = Roast

Beef• National Anthem = God

Save the Queen or Land of Hope and Glory

Principality ofWales 3 million peoplehttp://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/facts.htm

Capital = CardiffLanguage = Welsh (20% speak it,

80% English)Flower = Leek or DaffodilNational Dish = Welsh Cake or

Bara Brith (fruit bread)Heraldic Symbol = Red DragonFlag = Welsh DragonNational Anthem = Land of My

Fathers

Kingdom of Scotland 6 million peoplehttp://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/facts.htm

Capital = EdinburghLanguage = Scots Gaelic

(5% speak it, 95% speak English)

Flower = ThistleNational Dish = HaggisHeraldic Symbol = Lion

RampantFlag of St AndrewNational Anthem =

Flower of Scotland

Province of Northern Ireland 1 million peoplehttp://www.fjiordlands.org/strngfrd/info.htm

Capital = Belfast

Language = Irish Gaelic (5%) Scots English (10%) English (100%)

Flower = Shamrock

Heraldic Symbol = Crowned Red Hand

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

On the Royal Crest

of the UK the

lion represents

England and the

unicorn Scotland.

Main Activity 2

Look at the next three slides

United Kingdom Fact File• Official Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland• Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II• Head of Government: Prime Minister Tony Blair• Population: 59.2 million (UN, 2003) • Capital: London • Major language: English • Major religion: Christianity • Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 81 years (women) (UN) • Monetary unit: 1 pound sterling = 100 pence • Main exports: Manufactured goods, chemicals, foodstuffs • GNI per capita: US $25,510 (World Bank, 2002) • Internet domain: .uk • International dialling code: +44

Follow this weblink to find out facts about the physical

Geography of the British Isles

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/freefun/geofacts/

Be ready to tell the class at least two interesting facts.

Plenary

The United Kingdom is made up of four distinct nations and can be called multicultural. Due to our history of Empire we also have many other races living in the UK. It isn’t easy to say what being British means, other than being someone who is a subject of the Queen and a citizen of the UK. How would you define ‘British?’

Homework

• When people choose to move to the UK they can apply to become British Citizens. They take part in a citizenship ceremony where they swear allegiance to the Queen and swear to follow UK law. Do you think people born in the UK should have a citizenship ceremony when they reach 18? Why or why not?