Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators

A resource for middle school and high school classrooms

“USIP’s Peacebuilding Toolkit enables educators to bring important global issues into the classroom and strengthen students’ conflict management skills. I highly recommend that other teachers utilize the resources provided by USIP.”

— AP World History teacher

About

Cover of the Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators - Middle School Edition

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Edition

Cover of the Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators - High School Edition

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Edition

This Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators¹ is designed to support the work of educators as peacebuilders. It is a resource developed by and for educators, to enable you to help introduce peacebuilding themes and skills into the classroom. (Download the Toolkit Brochure - PDF, 2.83 MB)

The Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators can help develop students’ understanding of, and interest in, global peacebuilding, and develop their skills and capacities to act as peacebuilders. It can help teachers develop their own understanding of key concepts and skills, and enhance their capacity to teach about global peacebuilding themes and issues.

There are two volumes of the toolkit––one for middle school and one for high school. The content of the toolkit can stand alone, but is enhanced by reference to the range of other resources available on this website and at the Global Peacebuilding Center.The toolkit can be downloaded in its entirety, in sections or as individual lessons.

Go to the Toolkit Feedback Form

The Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators supports educational standards established by the Common Core: see how the Toolkit curriculum aligns with Common Core Standards.

Toolkit Themes

This toolkit is organized around basic themes within the field of international conflict management.

Theme 1: Conflict is an inherent part of the human condition.
Conflict is natural and is a normal part of everyday life. What makes a democratic society successful is its ability to deal with conflict, to allow and manage disagreement and dissent among people.
Theme 2: Violent conflict can be prevented.
Conflict becomes problematic when it escalates to violence. But violent conflict can be prevented. We can teach our students to assert their opinion while being respectful and open to the ideas others; to listen with care and attentiveness; to act responsibly when faced with conflict. Conflict need not cross the line to violence. Whether on a personal or an international level, peace is possible when parties in conflict with one another use peacebuilding tools to manage their disagreement.
Theme 3: There are many ways to be a peacebuilder.
Peacebuilding is based on knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can be learned. As such, everyone can be a peacebuilder. There are many roles involved and young people can make important contributions to building peace in today’s world.