September 6, 2016- Welcome back to school! We hope you are as excited as we are in the Global Peacebuilding Center about the start of fall. A new school year means new opportunities to educate and engage the next generation of peaceful global citizens!
This year, take advantage of exciting Global Peacebuilding Center initiatives to introduce your students to critical issues of conflict and peace and examples of effective peacebuilding action from around the world. From participating in our #PeaceDayChallenge, to encouraging your students to compete in our educational contests, to learning from our USIPeace Teachers how to integrate conflict and peace into your existing curriculum, you can help your students contribute to peace in many different ways.
International Day of Peace
September 21st is the International Day of Peace, as declared by the United Nations. Join the U.S. Institute of Peace and thousands of others in turning the day of peace into a day of global action by taking up the #PeaceDayChallenge. Visit www.peacedaychallenge.org for more information on how to take action in your classroom, home, office, or community, and get inspired by activities from last year!
USIPeace Teachers
Last year, we launched the USIPeace Teachers program, a year-long professional development opportunity for a select group of U.S. middle and high school teachers. Our 2015-2016 USIPeace Teachers Cohort learned a lot from a year of teaching peace in the classroom, which we are pleased to share with you in this video – along with lessons plans, projects, and other activities they have developed as part of the program. Don’t forget to check out this year’s 2016-2017 Cohort and the Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators!
USIP President and staff with USIPeace Teachers
Contests
USIP co-sponsors an array of student contests that appeal to a variety of learning styles and subjects. From the WACA Academic World Quest, to the National Essay Contest, there are numerous ways to get your students involved! USIP is proud to sponsor a Special Prize at the national level as part of National History Day. The Global Peace Prize is awarded annually to the top middle and high school entries that demonstrate America’s commitment to peace, including the role that individuals, organizations and/or the U.S. government have played in advancing the cause of global peace, this year using the theme “Taking a Stand in History.” Register for the webinar introducing the theme on September 7 at 8:00pm!
