Educational Resources for Teachers: Letters for Peace
November 18th, 2010 by Luke
Letter to educators:
Letters for Peace is a way for teachers to foster meaningful relationships between students in America and students in Iraq and help students open their hearts and minds to one another. It is a way for students to realize that what we have in common is often greater and more meaningful than what separates us. By participating in the Letters for Peace Program, students can gain personal insight into an often misunderstood region of the world and expand their perspective on the consequences of war on everyday life.
The program is designed in conjunction with our sister non-profit in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT). Students in the US write letters to their peers in Iraq, and the letters are then translated and forwarded to Iraq. MPT works with Iraqi students to write letters and send photos in return. We also provide easy-to-use video equipment in case teachers are interested in including a video recording component to the project. Letters and any other media used in the project are optionally posted on our website.
Teachers may also use powerpoints and lesson plans if they wish. These resources are free and downloadable from our website and fit the Minnesota Department of Education standards. You will find separate powerpoints for grades K-6 and 7-12. Each powerpoint:
- Teaches children how to write meaningful letters
- Teaches some of the building blocks of peace
- Is inclusive of children of military families
- Is designed by teachers and pilot-tested by students
Join us in creating an atmosphere of trust, respect and understanding so that together we may assist future generations of Americans to see beyond war into nonviolent means for settling conflict. Letters for Peace can be incorporated into school curriculums of all levels. For more information, please visit http://reconciliationproject.org/letters-for-peace/ or contact Erika Bisbocci by email at erika@reconciliationproject.org.
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