Jr. Model UN General Program Resources

Handbooks & Published Materials

This handbook provides teachers with the necessary resources and tools to ensure a positive and successful experience for all students. This handbook includes an overview of the program's main goals and objectives, a comprehensive explanation of the program's five main stages, and a number of key resources that will help guide students through the program. Click here for our most recent version of the Teacher Handbook. Note that while this version of the handbook was originally published for in-person programming, but is applicable to virtual programming as well. This handbook is especially recommended for faculty advisers new to the Jr. Model UN program. 

This handbook provides students with comprehensive overview of the history and structure of the United Nations (UN), including essential facts and curriculum materials covering the UN's six main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Trusteeship Council - as well as important global issues on the UN agenda. Click here to access.

Learning about the United Nations

Use this resource to learn about the basic functions and goals of the United Nations as "the one place on Earth where all the world's nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity." Explore the UN's work and members even further by clicking on the additional tabs listed on this page. Click here to access.

This video from CBC Kids News is a great way to introduce the United Nations to middle school students and break down the organization's founding, principles and goals, and responsibilities. Click here to access. 

The Counci's Jr. Model United Nations program simulates a meeting of UN member states in the General Assembly, the UN's main policy-making organ. Learn more about the General Assembly on the UN's website. Click here to access.

This student handout from PBS NewsHour provides a useful breakdown of the UN's structure, the history of the creation of the UN, and an overview of the UN's major accomplishments since its founding in 1945. Click here to access.

Learn about the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as "a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future." The Council greatly utilizes the SDGs to create each year's Jr. Model UN committee topics and briefing papers, and this website is a great resource for students who want to really dive into research about the UN's work and their assigned committee topic. Click here to access.

This video from the UN Association of Norway and UNICEF Norway explains the concept of sustainable development in a way that is geared towards middle school students who are being introduced to the topic for the first time. Click here to access.

2024 Cultural Diplomacy Conference Resources

View the Keynote Presentation from the 2024 Cultural Diplomacy Conference.

This helpful worksheet should be completed by students following participation in the Cultural Diplomacy Conference. It will help students to continue thinking about how their cultural background influences them and their perceptions of others. Click here to access.

The Country Profile Worksheet can be used as an introduction to learning about your assigned country by exploring the georgraphy, demographics, history, politics, and education! Click here to access a PDF version. A Microsoft Word version is available upon request. 

2024 Prep Conference Resources

The Prep Conference presentation is the main feature of the program, reviewing the UN and SDGs, teaching students about resolutions and position papers, and featuring a resolution writing and amendment workshop! Click here to download a sample of the PowerPoint Slides (PDF).

Click Here to download a copy of our 2024  Resolution Writing Handouts.

Click Here to view a sample Prep Conference Agenda for 2024.

Position Paper & Opening Speech Video Resources

This worksheet will help students learn as much as possible about their countries, ranging from official languages, populations and literacy rates to infant mortality rates, forms of government and major exports/imports.  Click here to download the worksheet. Please contact Council staff if you would like a WORD version.

An example position paper submitted by a group of students at an assigned school. Click here to download a sample Position Paper from 2017-2018.

Helpful instructions on How to Write a Position Paper.
Click here to view our 'How to Write a Position Paper' video.
Click here to download the 'How to Write a Position Paper' Instructions.

*Visit your school-specific Google Drive folder for access to an editable Google Docs version of the Position Paper Template. 

Click here to access the "How to Make Your Jr. Model UN Opening Speech Video" instructions. This document also includes student delegate example videos from past program years.

Students submitting Opening Speech Videos should also be sure to complete a Council Media Release Form!

Resolution Resources

This helpful template includes the mandatory header that students must fill out prior to uploading resolutions to your school's Google Drive Folder.

*Visit your school-specific Google Drive folder for access to an editable Google Docs version of the Resolution Template. 

Click here to download the resolution template (PDF).

 

This document provides some information on how to write your resolution. Use this information, along with the Resolution Writing Workshop Presentation to craft an impactful Resolution for the Final Conference.

Click here to access the 'How to Write a Resolution' document.

2024 Final Conference Resources

The April Asynchronous Activities help students prepare for the Final Conference by practicing asking and answering clarifying questions, public speaking, and amendment writing, in addition to learning more about this year's program topics.

  • Clarifying Questions Activity - One of the main skills students need for the Final Conferences is understanding the purpose of clarifying questions and learning how to ask and answer clarifying questions for the final committee resolutions.
  • Amendment Writing Activity - Another main skill students must have for the Final Conferences is amendment writing. Students should use this activity to practice amendment writing and to begin brainstorming potential amendments they may want to suggest for their committee's final resolution. 

Click Here to access a sample agenda for the Final Conference