Dedicated to Peace

Dedicated to Peace
Rosalynn Carter: First Ladies' Lives

Skill: Elementary School
Time Required: One to two class periods


Introduction:

Seals are often used to explain the purpose or characteristics of an organization.  However, instead of using words to create the descriptions, they use pictures or symbolic drawings.  The Carter Center for Peace works in many ways toward the ultimate goal of peace in all its manifestations.  Although the Peace Center has a logo, it does not have a seal.

Objectives:

The purpose of this lesson is for students to become aware of the varied areas of involvement in which Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter engaged and to develop a way to pictorially illustrate these.    

Materials Required:

Access to the Internet; access to print reference materials; standard art supplies.

Procedures:

1.  Begin the lesson by leading a discussion about peace—what it is and how to describe it.  Have students made a list of ideas and activities that describe peace. This discussion should move beyond peace as the absence of war. 
 
2.  Then, utilizing the website for the Carter Center for Peace, the teacher should assist students in identifying the areas of involvement of the Peace Center that match the students’ descriptive list.  Add other areas of involvement as needed. 
 
3.  Then, ask the students to develop graphic ways of representing each of the areas of the Peace Center’s work.  Then, working in groups or individually, students should create a seal for the Center that depicts the full range of its work.

Extending the Lesson:

This lesson can be extended by making larger renditions of the students’ work on poster board and mounting them around the room.

Sources & Resources:

Websites:
 
The Carter Center 

 
Credits:
 
This lesson was developed by Bette Brooks, Kent State University.