Lesson 1: What is Peace Day? Background for teachers:
Founded in 1999 by filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, the non- profit organisation Peace One Day led the initiative to establish an annual day of global ceasefire and non-vi- olence with a fixed calendar date, unanimously adopted by United Nations member states in 2001 as 21 Septem- ber – Peace Day. With the day in place Peace One Day is working to institutionalise Peace Day, making it a day that is self-sustaining.
Peace One Day Education aims to advance active learn- ing in the areas of peace, sustainability and anti-bullying
Lesson aims:
• KS 1 & 2 - pupils understand that a person’s actions and behaviour can negatively or positively affect the feelings of those around them.
Learning outcomes:
• KS1 – pupils: know the difference between hurtful and kind actions; understand that their behaviour is a choice, and that that choice affects how other people feel; work as a team to identify and agree on a class or school activity in support of Peace Day.
• KS2 – pupils can: make the link between peace at home/school/local community and peace in the international sphere; work as a team to identify and agree on a class or school activity in support of Peace Day.
in order to mobilise a generation of young people in sup- port of Peace Day. This lesson is designed to be a starting point for all further work in the Resource and begins with you telling the story of Peace Day and Peace One Day to your pupils using the cartoons and prompts provided below. Prior to this lesson you may wish to view Jeremy’s documentary ‘The Day After Peace’ (on page 3) to famil- iarise yourself with Peace One Day’s journey. Subsequent activities help pupils to start exploring the link between their own actions and their effects in the wider world.