Martin Institute to Develop Resources for World Peace Game; John Hunter to Keynote 2012 Summer Conference
The Martin Institute is pleased to announce that teacher John Hunter, a 4th grade teacher with Albemarle County Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been named as the first Martin Institute Teaching Excellence Fellow. Much attention has been brought to John Hunter’s teaching because of his 2011 TEDtalk, which was named by TED and the Huffington Post as the most influential TEDtalk of 2011.
John Hunter believes that his fourth grade students can solve world peace, as well as develop strategies for solving nuclear disasters, oil spills, global warming, endangered species issues, mineral rights, water rights—a total of about 30 interlocking, real world problems. John sets The World Peace Game in motion and then guides his students through the critical and strategic thinking, collaboration, and negotiation processes needed to understand and develop solutions for these global issues. Hunter explains, “The World Peace Game is about learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown.”
Brad Martin, PDS Board Member and author of the children’s book Myles’ Pesky Friends, will be signing and reading his book at Davis Kidd Booksellers on Saturaday, August 21 at 12:45 p.m.
The Martin Institute for Teaching Excellence is pleased to present a free public showing of the education documentary “World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements” on Saturday, November 12 at 10:30 am at Malco’s Studio on the Square Theater.
Following the film, we will be joined by filmmaker Chris Farina and teacher John Hunter to talk about how our look into Mr. Hunter’s classroom might change how we create our own classroom learning environments and experiences.
“World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements”
Q and A with teacher John Hunter and filmmaker Chris Farina
John Hunter, elementary school teacher in Albemarle County Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia, believes 4th graders are capable of much more than we usually ask of them. Specifically, Mr. Hunter believes 4th graders can solve World Peace, and he shows us just that in the wonderful new documentary “World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements.”
Over the course of the last 25 years, John Hunter has developed The World Peace Game, a multi-dimensional strategic board game that requires participants to solve world dilemmas that are environmental, geo-political, financial, military, and every other layer he can think of combined. He uses his large scale game grounded in real world problems to teach his students critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, coordination, communication, research, negotiation skills, and the skill of synthesis, to name a few.
Filmmaker Chris Farina has documented one class’s participation in The World Peace Game in his film, “World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements.” This look into Mr. Hunter’s classroom is an engaging and exciting example of what project-based, problem-based, highly energized and relevant teaching and learning look like. It shows a very structured and engaging classroom created by relinquishing the traditional notion of teacher always in control, at the front of the room, dispensing well-proportioned information. This films shows what is possible to create when we adopt a new vision of the learner and their needs.
Why is this film significant?
John Hunter plays The World Peace Game with elementary age classes as well as high school students and mixed age teams. Filmmaker Chris Farina has captured what learning in John Hunter’s classroom looks like. This is a very important film for teachers and school leaders to see at this moment in time because it demonstrates:
what problem-based learning looks like
interdisciplinary and interconnected learning
the development skills such as critical thinking, synthesis, communication, negotiation, initiative etc.
how tools do not have to be expensive and high tech
a veteran teacher renewing and reinventing his craft
that 4th graders can get really excited about learning, given then right environment.
Teacher John Hunter describes The World Peace Game as particularly relevant for students today as we prepare them for their futures because:
The World Peace Game is about learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown.
Brad Martin, PDS Board Member and author of the children’s book 
John Hunter, elementary school teacher in Albemarle County Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia, believes 4th graders are capable of much more than we usually ask of them. Specifically, Mr. Hunter believes 4th graders can solve World Peace, and he shows us just that in the wonderful new documentary “World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements.”
John Hunter plays The World Peace Game with elementary age classes as well as high school students and mixed age teams. Filmmaker Chris Farina has captured what learning in John Hunter’s classroom looks like. This is a very important film for teachers and school leaders to see at this moment in time because it demonstrates:
