Using MY HERO to Promote Peacemaking
by Andrew Greene , iEARN Sierra Leone
(Freetown, WA/WESTERN)

Subject Area:    Art/Music, English/Language Arts, Social Science, Technology/Media Literacy

Grade Level:    5-8, 9-12, college

Overview/Purpose:

Photo courtesy of The Carter Center

Students around the world will use the Internet and other educational technologies to explore and find peacemaker heroes. Students will emulate the character qualities and activities of their peacemaker heroes through role play. Using multi-media art forms and technology, students will creatively express qualities and works of the heroes they admire.

Objectives:

The primary goal of this lesson is to help students learn how to become involved in peace missions and translate this awareness into action. By identifying peacemaker heroes and participating in an activity that promotes peace in their community, students will learn that they, too, can impact the world and make a difference. Using the MY HERO Web site to make entries in the Guestbook and create Web pages for their heroes, students will have the opportunity to interact with their peers who have been directly affected by war and, together, share ideas to promote peace in their community and nation. They will learn the power of the Internet as a forum for bringing the international community together to discuss how we can live in a peaceful environment and what peace means to them personally. This will be insightful for all of the students involved and provide an opportunity for learning the value of peacemaking efforts.

Resources/Materials:

Computers with Internet access, flip chart, printers, scanners, digital cameras, digital video cameras, drawing and painting sets, and a Web cam for students to see themselves as they chat about their peacemaker heroes.

RELATED LINKS TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION OF PEACEMAKER HEROES:

The Bridge, a play by Jeton Neziraj of Kosovo.

Click here to view an animated version of The Bridge.

The Ron Kovic Peace Award celebrates films for peace.

Activities and Procedures:

Step 1: TEACHERS WILL ASK STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY PEACEMAKER HEROES IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD.

Students will identify peacemaker heroes and, through research, describe the qualities and activities that make these individuals peacemakers.

Step 2: TEACHERS WILL INVITE STUDENTS TO SHARE STORIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PEACEMAKER HEROES WITH THEIR PEERS AROUND THE WORLD.

Using the Guestbook and Create Program on the MY HERO Web site to build a Web page about their heroes, students will share stories about peacemakers and peacemaking with other students around the world to promote tolerance, respect and peace.

Step 3: TEACHERS WILL INSTRUCT STUDENTS TO ARTISTICALLY PRESENT THEIR PEACEMAKER HEROES.

This will be done in the form of creative writing, scanned photos, drawings, the creation of music that celebrates the works of heroes, and videos and film media to make documentaries about peacemakers.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on class participation, successfully building a Web page about their peacemaker hero, and the artistic presentation of their hero through drawing, painting, creative writing, film, and/or music.