The objectives of this study guide are: (1) to increase student understanding of the prevalence of youth participation in violent conflict and the challenges to addressing this global issue; (2) to familiarize students with strategies for conflict prevention, management, and resolution; (3) to develop students' analytical reading, writing, and research skills; (4) to reinforce students' abilities to collaborate and produce a work product with peers using traditional and electronic means of research, discussion, and document preparation; (5) to enable classroom teachers, students, and contest coordinators to write, edit, and submit essays to the United States Institute of Peace; and (6) to provide teachers with lesson plans, worksheets, bibliographic sources, and factual material to assist them in preparing students to write essays for submission to the National Peace Essay Contest. The study guide contains the 2006-2007 National Peace Essay Contest Question, five lessons, and additional activities, tips, resources, and content standards.