Review student Internet capabilities.
Gather Resources
Video - "I Have A Dream" Speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Obtain, video clip, tape, or
written manuscript of the speech from your school library or on line.)
Internet resources may include:
Encyclopedia Britannica (Search for individuals or events.)
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Alfred Nobel Bio
Nobel Prize FAQs
Nobel e-Museum
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Have a Dream Speech
Ask students if they have ever had a big dream in their life? Ask them what they have done about the dream.
Did they try to make it come true or leave the goal unfulfilled?
Explain that that the Olympics focus the world on dreamers who work hard to achieve a goal. Ask students if
they remember the names of Olympians who were able to achieve their goals.
Record student comments and then suggest other Olympians (examples may include: Eric Hieden, Stein Erickson,
Peggy Fleming, Sonya Heine, Peekaboo Street).
Explain that these athletes have influenced others to strive for their dream.
Discuss the dreams of athletes and how their work might have influenced others.
Explain that some men and women work for a lifetime to achieve the dream of World Peace (examples include: Martin
Luther King, Jr., Jane Addams, Henry Kissinger). These dreamers like the Olympians have earned prizes for their
achievements. Their prize is called the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize is the highest achievement that
can be earned by an individual or group working for peace in the world today.
Play or read a portion of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech and discuss what the speech was about. How did Dr.
King want his dream to take place? Who was involved in making the dream come true?
Explain that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize was set up by Mr. Alfred Nobel after he earned millions of dollars for his work with a special
type of nitroglycerine, called dynamite. He ended up with 355 patents and devoted himself night and day to his studies
and work. He had a dream of being of service to mankind. When he died he left his fortune to the Nobel Foundation that
awards persons around the world whose work has been of the greatest benefit to mankind.
Assign students the task of examining a Nobel Peace Prize winner and research his/her attitudes and thoughts on cooperation
and peace in the library or on the internet. Watch TV, read the newspaper, listen to the radio about your winner's country
to understand your person better.
Students research and study individual Nobel Peace Prize winners.
Ask students to represent a winner and to understand what their attitudes and philosophies might be. A group of
students will take part in a live forum on world issues and answer as their Nobel Peace Prize winner would have
answered.
At the end of the discussion ask students if their personal answers would have differed from that of their prize
winner. How would student answers differ from the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Students will recognize how dreams of world peace can lead people to struggle and achievement.
