The Nobel Peace Prize is a huge accomplishment for any individual who receives it. Teaching children about this noble accomplishment is a great way for teachers to inspire students to promote peace and work together towards a better tomorrow.
The Origin of the Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize originated thanks to the last will and testament of Alfred Nobel, who left a large portion of his vast fortune to what nobelprize.org refers to as a "series of prizes...dedicated to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".
Because of the focus on the promotion of peace, the Nobel Peace Prize has only been awarded 89 times since the creation of the prize in 1901. Most notably, the prize was not awarded during World War I or World War II. The prize can be won by individuals or organizations and when deemed appropriate, it can be shared by more than one winner. The award is always awarded in Oslo, Norway, as directed in Alfred Nobel's will.
Lesson Plan Ideas for the Nobel Peace Prize
Conflicts between members of the human race, whether in war or in recess-time arguments, are common. Some student will be more closely connected to violence or conflict, while others are more sheltered from these cruel realities of life. Therefore it is vital that teachers take care and plan lessons carefully in order to protect the students from any trauma from discussions.
Teachers can assign individual students or groups of students a winner or group of winners of the Nobel Peace Prize to research and give a report on to the class. The report must include details about the person who won the prize and the reason for which they deserved the prize. This conversation is especially important as President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Teachers should make the classroom a safe place for students to agree or disagree with the prize committee and openly discuss the individual or group's accomplishments that lead to the prize.
Teachers can hold a mock Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony allowing students to nominate those individuals and groups they think deserve the prize. As part of the nomination, students should be required to prepare a paper or speech persuading the rest of the class why the nominee deserves the prize.
Teachers can hold a group conversation or assign a writing project where students would describe what impact they would like to have on the world that may qualify them for the Nobel Peace Prize. This can turn into a classroom management plan as well, allowing the teacher to award a mini peace prize to the students whose behavior in the classroom has earned them the prize.
Winning the Nobel Peace Prize is a huge accomplishment for any group or individual. Students are likely to become interested in the award since President Obama has received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, according to the Nobelprize.org "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples", despite his being in office for such a short time.
Learn more about lesson plan ideas about President Obama that teachers can use in the classroom.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
Join the Conversation