13-18 years

THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2025

Maria Corina Machado

Themes: Nobel Peace Prize

Duration: 90 - 120 minutes
Copyright © Ill. Niklas Elmehed | Nobel Prize Outreach

On October 10, it was announced that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work to secure democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, and for her fight for a fair transition from dictatorship to democracy.

This is a prize about democracy, citizenship, and community. Democracy should never be taken for granted, which is why this award matters to all of us. Here, you’ll get to know the Peace Prize laureate better and explore the grey areas of democracy. When should the warning lights start flashing?

This educational resource is a collaboration between NRK Skole and the Nobel Peace Center.

Assignments

Task duration: 5-10 minutes

Before you get started, it's worth noting that the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado is a decision that has sparked reactions both in Norway and internationally.

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The resource is divided into two parts/sessions:

Part 1: Get to know Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado and her fight for democracy. This is the story of a democracy that gradually turned into a dictatorship—and of a woman who has sacrificed a lot in her struggle against authoritarian forces in her country.

Part 2: Around the world, democracy is in decline. But unlike before, it is now being dismantled from within. What are the warning signs, and how can we protect democracy as a form of government? In this session, students will work with fictional scenarios that explore bigger themes like the separation of powers and human rights.

Conclusion: What have you learned? Test your knowledge with a Kahoot! 😊

Task duration: 15-20 minutes

Dear Teacher

What you need for session 1:

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation with video for Session 1 (see under "Session 1").

2. Print the timeline task. 1 per group of 3–4 students.

What you need for session 2:

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation (see under "Session 2").

2. Print the attachments:

  • Democracy Thermometer (A3 size). One per group of 3–4 students.
  • Scenario cards. One set per group.
  • Theme cards. One set per group.
  • Task sheet. One per student.

3. Cut out each of the scenarios (or even better – let the students do it).

Task duration: 45 minutes

A Champion of Democracy

This session focuses on Maria Corina Machado. Get to know the Peace Prize laureate through an NRK video and a timeline activity.

You’ll find the full lesson plan in the PowerPoint presentation below.

Note: Instructions for how to run the session are included in the speaker notes of the presentation. To view the notes while presenting, use Presenter View.

Remember to print any materials you may need for the dialogue activities—see the section Teacher Preparation for details.

Task duration: 45 minutes

When is democracy in danger?

In this session, we’ll explore what defines a democracy, how to spot warning signs when it’s under threat, and learn—through reflection and group work—how to recognize signals that democracy might be in danger.

You’ll find the full lesson plan in the PowerPoint presentation below.

Note: Instructions for how to run the session are included in the speaker notes of the presentation. To view the notes while presenting, use Presenter View.

Remember to print any materials you need for activities—see Teacher Preparation for details.

Task duration: 5-10 minutes

Check out this Kahoot quiz to let the students put their knowledge to the test!