Education is a key ingredient in building a culture of peace. Today’s youth deserve a radically different education – one that does not glorify war but educates for peace, non-violence, and international cooperation.
Ambassador A. K. Chowdhury,
Former UN Under-Secretary-General & High Representative and former head of UNICEF
Build Peace Day in Your Classroom! Free Peace Day Activities, grades 1-12, that can be done in 20-45 minutes
Peace Day provides a powerful and inspiring opportunity to engage children and youth in diverse activities related to peace, unity, and making a positive difference in their world. Meaningful involvement can help establish respect and unity early in the academic year.
Here are a few additional resources you can use:
– Peace Breathing / Why Peace Breathing?
– 1 Page Flier for Teachers/Youth (in person and on-line)
– 1 Page Activities for Libraries
– Peace Poetry Activities
FOR MORE PEACE DAY IDEAS AND RESOURCES, GO TO OTHER PAGES IN THIS SECTION – Arts, Sports, Non-Violence, Social Justice, The Environment, etc.)
Other Resources:
– There is No Apolitical Classroom: Resources for Teaching in These Times
– Embrace Race: Race and Raising Kids Blog
– Multicultural Children’s Books about Peace
– Social Activism Diverse Book List Pre-K through 8
– SDG Poster for activities related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Mindfulness in Schools:
– FREE Film (41 Mins)- “Healthy Habits of the Mind” – Integrating Mindfulness Into Education – Describes why mindfulness belongs in education, and covers neuroscience, educator training, and showing mindfulness implemented in the classroom.
– “ROOM TO BREATHE” Documentary – Mindfulness for Students – More Info
– Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids
– Mindfulness Exercises for Youth – Mindful Schools
PEACE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, CURRICULA AND RESOURCES
Advancement Project’s Restorative Justice Toolkit for Educators
This toolkit is intended for all educators who support the growth and health of students in schools. It is an introduction for those new to the concepts and will help support and enhance the work of teachers already implementing these practices in their classrooms.
Anti-Defamation League – Resources Related to Bullying and other topics
Includes anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying training, curriculum and resources for youth, educators, youth providers and adult family members. DOWNLOAD: Table Talk: Hate Symbols.
Baylor University, How to provide a multi-cultural education
Global Oneness Project Educational Resources A compilation of videos, photo essays, curriculum links and resources.
Hague Appeal for Peace: YOUTH AGENDA FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE (Includes peace education resources and peace activity ideas)
Metta Center for Nonviolence: ROADMAP – a way of making the movement of movements visual.
National Education Association- Classroom Resources Re: Martin Luther King, Jr. Lessons for K-12 related to Martin Luther King, Jr., non-violence and civil rights, as well as MLK related videos.
National Liberty Museum (Philadelphia)- Resources for Educators and Students Offers Professional Learning Experiences that present real solutions to common educational challenges. The NLM also offers in partnership with educators in youth leadership and character education through the “Young Heroes” program.
National Peace Academy – Learn about the 5 Spheres of Peace
Online MSW Programs – How to Teach Kids About Race
Oxfam – Global Citizen Resources for Educators
Peace Alliance – Teach Peace
The Peace Center – Resource Library
Peace One Day’s FREE Education Resources, developed with Scholastic
Peace Praxis – RESOURCES – Peace Praxis provides Philly area training in: Bullying Prevention, Behavior Management, Character Education, Conflict Resolution, Diversity Awareness, Peace Education, Peer Mediation, Social and Emotional Learning, and School Climate Improvement Planning, and more.
Peaceful Schools International – Educational Resources – Offers many different types of resources for schools, students, and parents, such as films, books, teaching guides and toolkits.
Also from PSI: Creating a Culture of Peace – A Practical Guide for Schools
Philadelphia Folklore Project – Educational Tools for Teachers
Pulitzer Center – Education Resources – PC’s Lesson Builder is a quick, easy and flexible way to create curriculum, using Pulitzer Center reporting.
Rock Your World – A free, multidimensional, project-based curriculum for middle and high school students. Rock Your World centers around teaching students about human rights, and then giving them time to explore a variety of issues until they identify one that ‘sparks’ or inspires them to action.
Roots and Shoots Program (Dr. Jane Goodall)- Resources for Educators
Dr. Goodall, a UN Messenger of Peace, offers a program through Roots and Shoots to encourage youth “of all ages” to make positive change happen―for the animal community, the human community, and for the environment.
Roots and Wings – Mindfulness Training
Southern Poverty Law Center Project – Teaching Tolerance
Includes printer friendly educational resources, and training information. For FILM KIT, free to educators, CLICK HERE
“Teach for Peace” – List/links for Curricula and Resources – Also see Teaching for a Peaceful Future Think, Care Act BLOG
Teaching for Change
Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write and change the world. Encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens.
UNESCO – Culture of Peace Classroom
United Nations Youth, Peace and Security Programming Handbook
U.S. Institute of Peace, Global Peacebuilding Center
Educator Resources / Tools for Students
Violence Prevention Works – Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
LOCAL PEACE EDUCATION TRAINING RESOURCES
Anti-Violence Partnership Philadelphia– The Student Anti-Violence Education (SAVE) program teaches children the skills they need to choose nonviolent means of resolving conflicts and provides them with resources to deal with the violence they encounter in their homes, neighborhoods and schools. The SAVE program is a school based, violence prevention education program that involves highly participatory and experiential sessions with students. For more information, CLICK HERE
Inner Strength Foundation for Teen Mindfulness – provides innovative programs that use mindfulness training and perspectives in cultural development to help the youth of today become the great leaders of tomorrow.
International Association for Human Values – international organization with a local presence – offers youth, young adults and adults practical tools and life skills to manage stress and emotions. For information about the Youth Empowerment Seminar, CLICK HERE
Learning to BREATHE – A Mindfulness Curriculum for Adolescents – Based in West Chester, PA, Learning to BREATHE is a mindfulness-based curriculum for adolescents created for a classroom or group setting. The curriculum is intended to strengthen emotion regulation and attention, expand adolescents’ repertoire of stress management skills and help them integrate mindfulness into daily life. Each lesson includes age-appropriate discussion, activities and opportunities to practice mindfulness skills in a group setting.
National Liberty Museum – Teacher Training Workshops related to nurturing a culture of achievement and dealing more effectively with violence and bigotry in the classroom or community, and Young Hero’s Outreach Program related to violence prevention and diversity training workshops for educational settings.
The Peace Center, Langhorne PA Project PEACE for schools is a unique, comprehensive approach to peace education and violence prevention that promotes a safe school environment and encourages optimal learning through academic and social growth. For more information, CLICK HERE
Roots and Wings – Mindfulness training is associated with improved self-regulation, attentional control, and reduced psychological stress in youth. For more information about Roots and Wings Training, CLICK HERE
– Mindfulness, with Yoga, in schools makes good economic sense – Forbes, 2013
PARENT/YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT
– Campaign for Non-Violent Schools
– Good Shepherd Mediation Program
Need In Deed – Youth Engagement in their schools and communities
– Philadelphia Youth Commission
– Mayor’s Office of Education, Philadelphia
– Students in Action/Jefferson Awards
Anxiety for Children and Teens: A Parents Guide
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/ARTICLES FOR EDUCATORS
– Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Violence Prevention Tools
– Emotional Agility as a Tool to Help Teens Manage Their Feelings
– Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia – Walking the Walk Youth Initiative
– Peaceful Warrior-Rethinking Schools
– School Violence: Prevention – Center for Disease Control
– Stomp Out Bullying: Why Do Kids Bully
– US Department of Health and Human Services: Best Practices In Bullying Prevention
