Hot Topic on Peace Week

Schools' Peace Week 2006
6-12 August

The past century has seen more death from war, famine, and other preventable causes than any other time span in history. Peace involves us all, whether as individuals or as members of groups.

Peace Week is an opportunity for schools throughout New Zealand to organise fun and informative peace activities and events based around a broad range of peace-related topics.

Peace Week can be incorporated into the classroom in a variety of enjoyable and informative peace-oriented activities such as:

• Cooperative games that encourage trust, respect, and self esteem.
• Discussions on ways of solving problems non-violently ­ at home, at school, in the community, as well as internationally.
• Practising conflict resolution through role-plays, simulated games, and interactive exercises.

Days of importance during Schools’ Peace Week include:

August 6 - Hiroshima Day
August 9 - Nagasaki Day
August 9 - International Day for Indigenous Peoples
 
The Peace Foundation has suggested the following starters in planning for Peace Week:

• Invite speakers to schools to introduce topics.
• Construct banners, murals, and artwork according to age levels.
• Write stories and poems or write and produce plays and mimes.
• Organise class and inter-class discussions, debates, and presentations.
• Invite local MPs, the local mayor, councillors, board of trustee members for any of the activities.
• Encourage joint activities with other nearby schools of the same or different levels.
• Organise school delegations to present material to MPs, councils, overseas representatives, or any gatherings.
• Contact international youth organisations.

The Peace Foundation is also calling for entries for the 2006 Media Peace Awards Nga Tohu Rongomau Papaho. The closing date for entries is 8 August, 2006.

A broad range of material will be considered including:
- a feature, experimental or short film
- a TV or radio programme or modular series
- an article or series of articles
- an advertising/public relations project
Material must have been written/produced/directed by individuals or organisations working in or for a New Zealand-based organisation, and, excluding student entries, must have appeared in the New Zealand public media between 1st August, 2005 and 1st August, 2006.
Download an entry form at  http://www.peace.net.nz/pdf/100534_Media_Entry_Form.pdf  (PDF 109K)

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Peace resources on TKI:

Peace Foundation
The Peace Foundation site has some inspirational words on the place of peace in our schools and homes, information about the Cool Schools’ mediation programme, and resources for students.
http://www.peace.net.nz

Children of War
The Children of War classroom activity from the Discovery Channel encourages students to read, analyse, and discuss excerpts from children's war diaries.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/activities/childrenofwar/index.html

Conflict and War
English Online's ‘Conflict and War’ lesson plan includes poetic writing, transactional writing and presenting. http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/units/conflict_war/home.html

We Shall Overcome - Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement
This site celebrates and records the places and personalities involved in the civil rights movement in the United States. The site features speeches from civil rights leaders and links to relevant resources.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/

Week of Peace
The Education Gazette published an article on Peace Week plans in June 2001, suggesting activities which classes can take part in for Peace Week
http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/articles/show_articles.cgi?id=5964

International Peace Bureau
The International Peace Bureau was founded in 1892 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910. Its website lists peace education resources.
http://www.ipb.org

Please note: These links were valid when this page was posted. However the Web is very volatile, and TKI has no control over outside websites. Please let us know if you find anything inappropriate, if you find a broken link, or if you have an update for a link by emailing links@tki.org.nz. Te Kete Ipurangi recommends that teachers view all websites we link to before using them with students.

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