Peace and Fairness

Day One-What is Peace? 1. Class discussion (write answers on large paper) -What is peace? (getting along with others, feeling calm and happy, quietness) -What do we need to have peace? (respect, unity, helping others, fairness, working out problems) -What are symbols of peace? (dove, peace sign etc.) Read Aloud: The Peace Book by Todd Parr Writing Prompt: Peace is…. or “What does peace mean to you?” Individual Activity 2. Worksheets - Color of peace - Symbols of peace - Peace is a journey - Pass the Peace Use these for display in the room and hallway 3. Group Activity 1. Unity banner Trace hands on banner paper. Use multicultural crayons to color them different skin tones. Display in the hallway

Day Two- Fairness 1. Equality Activity To let children experience prejudice first hand, in reference to Martin Luther King Day. Materials/Preparation: A favorite class treat - enough for the entire class. I use peanut butter crackers or pretzels that we normally have for a morning snack. 1.Pass out morning snacks to some of the class. (i.e. boys only, those with blond hair only) 2.When the other children question this, explain that only this particular group is getting snacks today. The rest of the class will be quite put out at this point. 3.Continue on for about 5-10 minutes and call then call students to the story rug, without any explanation for your actions. Read a picture book of Martin Luther King's life. 4.After reading the story, ask the children who did not receive snacks how they felt about that. They are usually still very upset. 5.Ask those who did receive snacks how they felt. 6.Explain that you were demonstrating prejudice or unequal treatment. 7.The children have a greater understanding of how unfairly black people were treated in Mr. King's day. 8.Finally, give morning snack to those children skipped earlier. As hard as it is to slight children in this lesson, it is a real learning experience for them. Read Aloud: Beads on One String by Dennis Warner Activity: Discussion- “What does it mean that we are all beads on one string?” Choral Reading w/ song. Alternate Read Aloud: Dr. Seuss’ Sneeches Discussion Questions 1. Were the Sneeches all the same? Different? 2. What was different about them? 3. Was the difference good or bad? 4. Were all of the sneeches fair? Why or Why not? 5. Who helped them to realize that they were not being fair? 3. Egg Activity -boil an equal amount of white and brown eggs. -have students state the differences and similarities in the eggs. -have students crack and peel the eggs -are they the same or different inside? -students should make the connection that all people are the same inside despite obvious differences in appearance.

Day Three-Working It Out 1. Review previous days’ concepts. 2. Discuss working out problems- -anger (take a deep breath-count to 5) -slow down, stop and think -respectful talking -thinking of choices -picking the best one 3. Role play -Discuss and role play 1. Two people both want the last doughnut 2. Someone pushes another person down 3. Someone calls someone else names 4.Read Six Crows by Leo Lionni -discuss while reading -At the point in the story where the owl confronts the farmer, stop reading and ask students what they would do to help the farmer and crows make peace. -Write down responses on large note paper, or use as a prompt for individual writing.

Day four- Dr. Martin Luther King 1. Review fairness/feelings associated with the equality activity. 2. Explain that there was a time when not all people were created equal. Use role plays to help students understand. 3. Discuss and explain how MLK used peace to change things instead of violence. 4.Read MLK books and discuss 5. My Dream Activity -discuss with students what Dr. King’s dream for peace was -have students suggest other things that we would want in our world and write them down on large notepad -Have students decide on an individual dream and fill out worksheet Read Aloud: Make Someone Smile and 40 More Ways to Be a Peaceful Person by Judy Lalli Writing Prompt: “How would you make someone smile?” Choral Reading: Circle of Smiles (Reading A-Z) w/ song.

Other Activities 1. peace symbols patterns 2. peace quilt 3. peace bracelet (plastic beads) pink- for the respect in our hearts green/brown-unity we have with others across the land blue-helping others who are feeling this way yellow-the sun shines on everyone the same way (fairness) red-working out our problems when we are angry

Videos

• Todd World: Being An Individual- 66 minutes

• Todd World: Appreciating Differences- 66 minutes

• Our Friend Martin- 60 minutes

• Videos For Peace Kids by Mr. Curry’s Class- 11 minutes

Book List (K-2) • Words Are Not For Hurting by Elizabeth Verdick

• Teeth Are Not For Biting by Elizabeth Verdick

• Hands Are Not For Hitting by Elizabeth Verdick

• Feet Are Not For Kicking by Elizabeth Verdick

• Let’s Get Ready for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Martin Luther King Junior Day by Margaret McNamara

• School Isn’t Fair! by Patricia Beahr

• The Hating Book by Charlotte Zolotow

• Peace Begins With You by Katharine Scholes

• Six Crows by Leo Leonni

• It’s Mine! by Leo Leonni

• Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox

• Mole’s Hill by Lois Ehlert

• Working Together by Pam Scheunemann

• Acting With Kindness by Pam Scheunemann

• Dealing With Bullies by Pam Scheunemann

• The Color of Peace by Mr. Curry’s Class

• The Peace Book by Mr. Curry’s Class

• I Am a Peace Kid by Mr. Curry’s Class

• Make Someone Smile by Judy Lalli

• What Does Peace Feel Like? by Vladimir Radunsky

• The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

• Somewhere Today by Shelley Moore Thomas

• Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz

• Yoko’s World of Kindness by Rosemary Wells

• My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris

• The Peace Book by Todd Parr

• It’s OK to be Different by Todd Parr

• The Laughing River by Elizabeth H. Vega

• The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss

• Beads On One String by Dennis Warner

Web Resources Peace Flags by Kids- http://www.peaceflagsbykids.org

PeaceKids- http://www.peacekids.net/

Songs/Videos for Peace Kids- http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/teachers/dlcurry/?b=04

Peace Books- http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/teachers/dlcurry/pdfs/1194/?b=04

International Kids Club- http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/index.html

Peace Kids- http://peacekids.ning.com/

Pink for the respect in our hearts

Green for the unity we feel with

others around the world Yellow for the sun that shines with fairness on everyone Blue to remember to help others who are feeling this way Red for working out our problems when we are angry