The Living Ideals of the Carter Center for Peace

The Living Ideals of the Carter Center for Peace
Rosalynn Carter: Religion, Social Issues and Reform

Skill: Middle School
Time Required: Two class periods

Introduction:

The Carter Center for Peace is much more than Jimmy Carter’s presidential library. Because of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s wide-ranging interests, the Center is involved in numerous activities of national and international scope.

Objectives:

The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the goals of the Carter Center for Peace and to assist students in the clarification of their own ideas about the importance of this work in today’s world.

Materials Required:

Access to the Internet; access to print reference materials.

Procedures:

1. Working together as a class, access the Carter Center for Peace website and list the areas of involvement noted (the teacher may wish to do this and present the list to the class).

2. Divide the class into groups (into as many groups as there are areas of involvement, making certain to include the five major peace programs and the seven health programs, including Every Child by Two; or, into fewer groups by combining several programs; or into just two groups, peace and health).

3. Have students read about the programs and present their findings to the class. Then, ask the students which programs should be cut if funding was reduced. Ask them to look at the consequences of each cut. The teacher may use this as a homework assignment and have students write a persuasive essay to “save” their favorite area of involvement.

Extending the Lesson:

This lesson may be extended by having students go deeper in the causes and extent of the problems addressed by the Carter Center. Students could prepare PowerPoints, or posters on various issues, or could lead the way for a whole-school study of peace initiatives around the world.

Sources & Resources:

Websites:

The Carter Center

Credits:

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

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