Monday, January 16, 2017

Civics Education for Peace : Martin Luther King's Day : Resources






Martin Luther King [1929-1968]
Peace Nobel Prize
credits: Getty Images

"Peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold"


Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize lecture




Beginning in 1971, cities such as St. Louis, Missouri, and states established annual holidays to honor Martin Luther King. 

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King. 

Observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, it is called Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King's birthday, the 15 January 1929. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the first national holiday named for a modern private citizen. Initially celebrated on this day in 1986, it is now observed in all 50 states.


  • Google Doodles:



Martin Luher King Jr. Day
credits: guest artist Cannaday Chapman

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Today the Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Baptist minister, Nobel Laureate, and civil rights activist who dedicated his life working tirelessly for peace, social justice, and opportunity for all Americans - irrespective of color or creed.

Google doodles are awesome digital resources for almost every important personality in science, literature, art, human rights, technology.
*Note: The beautiful tradition of Doodles beginning on August 1998, honors on this day, Martin Luther King, Jr DayOne of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s major themes was unity.

The Doodle by guest artist Cannaday Chapman was also developed in collaboration with the Black Googlers Network (BGN), one of the largest employee resource groups at Google. 
The image depicts a young girl perched on her father’s shoulders, enthralled by the power and eloquence of Dr. King’s words
The scene is evocative of Dr. King’s dream for children everywhere to one day live in a better world.


Google Doodle Martin Luther King Day 2017
In 2017, the Doodle, a watercolor-like depiction of several races and sexes of people holding hands, was vibrant and powerful. It highlighted the achievements of the civil rights leader, whose birthday is honored each year with a national holiday in the US. 

The 2017 Doodle was created by guest artist Keith Mallett, captures one of the major themes of King's speeches and writing: Unity

"All life is interrelated," Mallet said. "We are all made to live together." 

*Note: The Doodle also doubled as a promotion for the curated Collection of Civil Rights Photography from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.





Martin Luther King Jr
credits: Alamy
via University California Press blog

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

Monday 16 isn't King's real birthday. King was born January 15. But a federal holiday signed into law in 1983 sets aside the third Monday of each January to observe his birthday.

King's message of nonviolence and love, delivered in magnificent speeches and masterful writing, shaped the American civil rights movement and inspired activists worldwide. 




Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize 1964
credits: The Nobel Foundation archive.


  • Nobel Peace Prize:
Martin L. King Jr 
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He adhered to Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. 

Prize motivation: “for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population”

Martin L. King urged Americans of all races to keep "working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation, and peace."  

"Martin Luther King dreamt that all inhabitants of the United States would be judged by their personal qualities and not by the color of their skin. 

In April 1968 he was murdered. Four years earlier, he had received the Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against racism."

Nobel Peace Prize




Education:

King taught that we are all capable of lighting the way to "the bright daybreak of freedom and justice," and that we can unite to show that "love is the most durable power in the world."

As for Mandela Day, teachers can invite the students to take action and inspire change by celebrating Human Rights Day in school, honoring  King's message of nonviolence and love. Include Civics activities in a cross-curricular plan.

Some possible activities: Students
  • Make peace with an unfriend. Get to know someone in the school from a different cultural background and through mutual understanding rid intolerance and xenophobia.
  • Read to someone who can't. Visit a local home for old people or for blind people and open up a new world for someone else.
  • Help someone at the supermarket, on the street or someone who is a bit lost in the city or can't find the right bus, for example.
  • Visit an hospital and speak to ill people or ill children. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.
  • Grab blankets that you no longer need from home and give them to homeless people.
  • Help out at a local animal shelter. Dogs and cats without homes still need a walk or a bit of love.
  • Make a Peace concert at school by writing some lyrics about peace, social inclusion and adjusting to a tune that students love. Invite parents and the local community to listen it.
  • Deliver computer literacy workshops to older people in school (grandparents, neighbors,  community).

Literacy is probably the most important skill for an individual to acquire and develop. An empowerment tool that gives access to further education and new opportunities. 

IT skills complete the education of all in our days. However, Unity is one of the most important values to pledge.




  • Resources:
The High Museum is one of the only venues to see a significant collection of photos from the Civil Rights movement. 
Over 300 photos paint a picture of various moments in Civil Rights history like Rosa Park's arrest and the multitude of social protests.

Nobel Peace Prize: Martin Luther King Jr Lessons: facts, biography, Nobel lecture, acceptance speech.
Remembering Martin Luther King on Nobel Prize website:
“To this undaunted champion of peace the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament has awarded the Peace Prize for the year 1964”

Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against racism.

  • Games:

Peace Builders Minecraft:

This new immersive Minecraft map and learning experience is an opportunity for students to meet four more Nobel Peace Prize laureates and learn how these changemakers address conflict around the world.




Minecraft Peace Builders 
credits: Nobel Peace Center 

Minecraft Peace BuildersThe Minecraft Peace Builders Game is inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize and the lives and accomplishments of four Nobel Laureates. Each of them has taken a different path to work for a more peaceful world.

What does Peace mean to your students? More importantly, how can they contribute to making it a reality?

Values: In this game, the students will learn and be inspired to learn more about how they can work towards a better world.

Find out what it takes to craft peace! Follow the stories of four Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and Alfred Nobel as you help them avoid and mitigate conflict around the world.






Peace Builders is available for all Minecraft Education users in 29 languages

Download Minecraft Education for a free trial and explore free online Minecraft 101 training.

Available platforms: 
Windows; Mac; Chromebook or Android; iPhone/iPad.

Nobel Peace Prize encourage teachers to use the lessons in the way that best fits their needs. Use part of them or all of them, use them in class, or have students use them independently.





Imagine
illustrations: Jean Julien

Books:

Teachers have the lovely book Imagine by French illustrator Jean Jullien. He has illustrated Imagine, the first picture book set to John Lennon’s original lyrics. 

Jean Jullien has illustrated this picture book titled ‘imagine‘ - a story set alongside lyrics from Lennon’s powerful 1971 hit single, whose message is as relevant to society today as it was when it was released. The book follows the journey of a pigeon as she sets out to spread hope and tolerance across the world.

The book has a foreword by Yoko Ono Lennon and was created in collaboration with Amnesty International to “inspire a new generation to imagine a world at peace”. 

Languages: 4 languages for 7 countries.






Activities: Read more here

*Peace Dove Game: 

The game was include in my original publication (16.01.2017) by a suggestion of the Nobel Peace Prize website. Later, the game has been discontinued. 




Peace Doves game

Peace Doves Game: Invite your younger students to play the Nobel Peace Dove game to disarm the world with the help of peace doves.
Students have eight 'Peace Doves', each able to disarm one of the eight countries possessing nuclear weapons. They try the game and learn more about nuclear disarmament.
The game takes place in space, and features doves with names like "Lady Juliet," "Dolores," and "Peggy Sue." 
The introduction makes is redolent of the opening of "Star Wars" with on-screen text scrolling up, before asking, "Are you Ready?"
Promoted on the homepage, the online game resides in the Educational section of the Nobel Prize website.

*Note: Peace Doves Game was discontinued on Nobel Prize website on the Educational resources page.

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

G-Souto

16.01.2017
update: 15.01.2024

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