In this lesson, you’ll learn about Memory of the World (MoW), a programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The programme aims to preserve some of the world’s most significant items of our documentary heritage. What makes them significant? They reflect key aspects of societies around the world—their culture, traditions, history, technology, or science. Preserving these items provides us and future generations with an understanding of our origins and how they’ve shaped us and how we must work to shape our future.

What Will You Do?

1. Learn about MoW and the International Register.
2. Understand what makes up our documentary heritage.
3. See items of the MoW programme up close.

This lesson can be used in the classroom or given to students to work through independently, with fellow students, or with another adult. The content is accessible to a wide range of ages, but it’s especially geared toward students ages 14 to 18.

This lesson plan was created in association with Six Red Marbles