Global Peace and Local Legacies
How does an individual use personal interests and strengths to impact the common good?
Photo Credit: Young & Old by Benny Raemdonck is licensed under CC by 2.0
Students learn about the Nobel Peace Prize and analyze how the choices made by Nobel Peace Prize recipients led to improvement in the common good. Students examine family, school, and local community for individuals or organizations that positively impact the common good and leave a legacy. Students create a certificate and award to show appreciation for selected nominees and plan a celebration to recognize them.
This lesson introduces the students to Alfred Nobel and his legacy, the Nobel Peace Prize. Students will learn about the paradox between intent and purpose as related to Alfred Nobel, review the criteria used to award the Nobel Peace Prize and reflect on how they would like to be remembered in time. They will make the connection between philanthropy and core democratic values.
In this lesson students will research the stories of individuals (motivations, background, values) who have received the Nobel Peace Prize and explain why they received it. They will analyze the importance of their actions for the common good.
Learners will compare and contrast the contributions of the “community champion” nominees who have left a legacy that will benefit the common good and last beyond their own lives. The nominees will be in three categories of giving to examine: family, school and the local community. With the Nobel Peace Prize as an example of an award given in perpetuity for improvements to the common good, the students, as a group, will create an award and/or prize that recognizes the nominees’ contribution. This lesson will provide students the opportunity to understand the structure of the community foundation in their community as well as its role in perpetuating an endowment for benevolent projects to benefit the future of the community.
Students will understand the impact that philanthropy has worldwide both locally and worldwide. The final experiential component will have students celebrating the good works of local philanthropists (Champions for the Common Good), and engaging in philanthropic activities themselves by planning and holding an awards ceremony to honor local philanthropists. The students will decide whether to follow up the award with other donations of time, talent and/or treasure.