Peace: Unit Overview
What does peace mean to you? What does peace look like at school or in our world? In this unit, I have combined song, story, video-making, and a simple craft to help make the concept of peace more tangible for elementary children. I’ve used these lessons with great success at my own school. At the end of the unit, each of my teachers had a class video made by the children to share on their own web pages and to promote World Peace Day. Work carefully through the lessons from the beginning. In this unit, the song “Peace in My Fingers” by Susan Salidor teaches the conceptual framework for all further lessons.
Peace #1, “I’ve Got Peace in My Fingers”, by Susan Salidor
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students are encouraged to think about what they can do, say, and express to create a peaceful school and a more peaceful world. Building on the wonderful piece by Susan Salidor, children will learn a song that helps them structure their thinking about peace. Lesson… Read more
Peace #2: The Peace Book, by Todd Parr
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will broaden their thinking about peace by reading and discussing Todd Parr’s phenomenal The Peace Book. Students will also continue their thinking about what peace is and what peace looks like in action. Suggested Grades: 2-4 Objective: Each student will be able to articulate… Read more
Peace #3: A Little Peace, by Barbara Kerley
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will preview their photos and finalize their short scripts for the peace video. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 2-4 Objective: Students will finalize their short (usually one sentence) scripts for the peace video. Suggested Time: 35-45 minutes Success Criteria: Each student will check to ensure… Read more
Peace #4: Voices of Peace: Can You Say Peace?, by Karen Katz
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will be able to view and reflect upon their class peace video. They will also learn how to say “peace” in multiple languages. They will create a Peace Word Wall display and will be able to view and reflect upon their class peace video.… Read more
Peace #5: Building a Peace Chain
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will use their ideas about peace from the unit to build a “peace chain.” As incredible as it sounds, I have found that many students do not know how to do something as simple as make a paper chain. This lesson gives them the… Read more
Peace #6: Alfred Nobel: The Man Behind the Peace Prize, by Kathy-Jo Wargin
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will discover the history behind the world’s most prestigious peace prize. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 2-5 Objective: To help students understand the life of Alfred Nobel and his motivation to establish international prizes rewarding human achievement, especially peace. Suggested Time: 40-50 minutes Success Criteria:… Read more