Nobel Prize

Nobel Prize: Talking About Great Minds🏅

Every October, the world’s attention turns to Stockholm and Oslo as the new Nobel Prize winners are announced. These awards, founded by Alfred Nobel over a century ago, recognize the individuals and ideas that have made the most significant contributions to science, literature, and peace. From breakthroughs in physics and medicine to powerful works of art and acts of courage, the prizes spark global conversations about what — and who — truly changes the world.

We invite you to explore and discuss the meaning and impact of the Nobel Prize with your buddy. This file is not a full session plan — it’s an extra resource to inspire reflection on achievement, progress, and human creativity.

Inside, you’ll find two versions of the conversation prompt: a simple one and a more advanced one. Choose the level that fits your student and dive into the topic together!

Simple Version	Advanced Version
Read the article and talk about the Nobel Prize winners Optionally, review the infographics and some interesting facts about the Nobel Prize winners here. Useful vocabulary: 🔹to honor – to show respect or give praise. 🔹invention – something new that is made. 🔹achievement – something important someone has done. 🔹to do research – to study carefully. 🔹award – prize given to someone for doing well. Useful sentence starters: When I hear “Nobel Prize,” I think of … I think these categories are important because … A new category could be … I think the Peace Prize should go to … In my opinion,…is more important than … because… I think … deserves the prize because … Discussion questions: Name 5 things that come to your mind when you hear the phrase “Nobel Prize”? Does your country have many Nobel Prize winners? Do you think the prize categories (like literature, peace, physics) are still important today? Should there be new categories? Should the Peace Prize go to politicians, or only to regular people and activists? Omar Yaghi (Nobel Prize winner in physics) said, “Science is the greatest equalizing force in the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Can books and literature change the world like science or politics can? If you could give the Nobel Peace Prize to someone today, who would it be? Why? What personal qualities do most Nobel winners have?	Review the article and talk about the Nobel Prize winners Optionally, review the infographics and some interesting facts about the Nobel Prize winners here. Useful vocabulary: 🔹groundbreaking – very new and original; making an important discovery. 🔹recognition – public acknowledgment or praise 🔹to advocate – to publicly support something. 🔹to pave the way for – made something possible or easier to happen later. 🔹to campaign for – to work actively toward a goal. 🔹to devote one’s life to – to spend most of your life doing something. Discussion questions: What images spring to mind when you hear the phrase “Nobel Prize”? Does your country have many Nobel Prize winners? Do you think the prize categories (like literature, peace, physics, etc.) still reflect the most important fields today? Should new ones be added? In your opinion, should the Peace Prize ever go to politicians in power, or only to activists and civilians? Omar Yaghi (the winner of the Nobel Prize in physics) said, “Science is the greatest equalizing force in the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Do you think literature can influence society as much as science or politics can? If you could give the Nobel Peace Prize to someone today, who would it be and why? What personal qualities do you think most Nobel laureates share?

Simple Version

Advanced Version

Read the article and talk about the Nobel Prize winners
Optionally, review the infographics and some interesting facts about the Nobel Prize winners here.

Useful vocabulary:

🔹to honor – to show respect or give praise.

🔹invention – something new that is made.

🔹achievement – something important someone has done.

🔹to do research – to study carefully.

🔹award – prize given to someone for doing well.

Useful sentence starters:

When I hear “Nobel Prize,” I think of …

I think these categories are important because …

A new category could be …

I think the Peace Prize should go to …

In my opinion,…is more important than … because…

I think … deserves the prize because …

Discussion questions:

Name 5 things that come to your mind when you hear the phrase “Nobel Prize”?
Does your country have many Nobel Prize winners?
Do you think the prize categories (like literature, peace, physics) are still important today? Should there be new categories?
Should the Peace Prize go to politicians, or only to regular people and activists?
Omar Yaghi (Nobel Prize winner in physics) said, “Science is the greatest equalizing force in the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
Can books and literature change the world like science or politics can?
If you could give the Nobel Peace Prize to someone today, who would it be? Why?
What personal qualities do most Nobel winners have?

Review the article and talk about the Nobel Prize winners
Optionally, review the infographics and some interesting facts about the Nobel Prize winners here.

Useful vocabulary:

🔹groundbreaking – very new and original; making an important discovery.

🔹recognition – public acknowledgment or praise

🔹to advocate – to publicly support something.

🔹to pave the way for – made something possible or easier to happen later.

🔹to campaign for – to work actively toward a goal.

🔹to devote one’s life to – to spend most of your life doing something.

Discussion questions:

What images spring to mind when you hear the phrase “Nobel Prize”?
Does your country have many Nobel Prize winners?
Do you think the prize categories (like literature, peace, physics, etc.) still reflect the most important fields today? Should new ones be added?
In your opinion, should the Peace Prize ever go to politicians in power, or only to activists and civilians?
Omar Yaghi (the winner of the Nobel Prize in physics) said, “Science is the greatest equalizing force in the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
Do you think literature can influence society as much as science or politics can?
If you could give the Nobel Peace Prize to someone today, who would it be and why?
What personal qualities do you think most Nobel laureates share?