TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Little White Rabbit 3
Meeting Plan for Preschool 4
Presentations and thanks 5
Tale "The Little White Rabbit" 6-10
Return on the tale 11
Reflection on living in peace 11
Attitudes and peaceful behavior 11
Helping Hands 12
Drawing for a world of peace 13
Return on drawings 13
Minute of peace 14
End of the meeting 14
The Ugly Duckling 15
Meeting Plan for 1st grade 16
Presentation and thanks 17
Tale "The Ugly Duckling" 18 - 24
Return on the tale 25
Reflection on living in peace 25
Resolution of conflicts 25
Helping Hands26
Drawing for a world of peace 26
Return on drawings 26
Minute of peace 27
End of the meeting 27
The Enchanted Adventure 28
Meeting plan for 2nd grade 29
Presentations and thanks 30
Tale “The Enchanted Adventure” 31 - 37
Return on the tale 38
Game of association of talents 38
My Own Talents 39
Resolution of conflicts 40
Helping Hands 40
Reflection on Peace 41
End of the meeting 41
My Own Talents (sheet to be photocopied) 42
List of qualities 43
The Polar Epic 44
Meeting Plan for 3rd grade 45
Presentations and thanks 46
Story "The Polar Epic" 47-52
Return on the story 53
Our Good Qualities 54
Return on the sounding 55
Resolution of conflicts 55
Helping Hands 56
Minute of peace 56
End of the meeting 56
Materials 57
GAMES "Our Good Qualities" 58-59
GAMES "Positive Feelings" 60
Sounding 61
Thermometers of respect 62
The Two Brothers 63
Meeting Plan for 4th grade 63
Presentations and thanks 64
Legend "The Two Brothers" 65-68
Reflection on the legend 69
Reflection on living in peace 69
Attitudes and peaceful behavior 70
Helping Hands 71
Drawing for a world of peace 71
Reflexion on drawings 71
Minute of peace 72
End of the meeting 72 Evaluation (Appendix)
THE PEACE AMBASSADORS______
Pre-school
The Little White Rabbit
Who Wanted to Live in Peace.
Educational activities for peace
THE PEACE AMBASSADORS
Logistics
- Materials: 1 sheet per child, markers, wooden pencils, wax pencils or oil paints.
- Before the training, when you are in the class, give the teacher the Evaluation of the meeting (appendix). Get the evaluation back at the end of the meeting.
For the Elementary school:
-Create a space for the Tale and the other activities. The session goes as follows: presentation, reading of the tale, reflection on the tale + some questions, drawings + return, minute of peace and End of the meeting.
1-PRESENTATIONS AND THANKS (1 min)
- Introduce yourself to the students.
- Thank the teacher and the administration for the opportunity to meet the students for this activity. Thank the staff of the school who will have helped you in the preparation of the activity.
- You can say to the students that you meet them to speak to them about a subject very important for you: PEACE. Follow with:"Today, we will see together attitudes and peaceful behaviors that we can do, we will identify people who will be able to help you if you have disagreements, and we will each tell our own ideas of peace. But first, we are going to tell you the story of the little white rabbit who wanted to live in peace."
2- TALE (12 min)
For the reading of the tale in elementary school, distribute the following parts among the Ambassadors: narrator, the little white rabbit, the fox, the owl, and the lynx.
- Tell tale by asking for the participation of the children:"Do you want to help me tell this story? Then when I make the sign (), put your rabbit ears on, and when I say “the little white,” you add “rabbit.” Let’s practice. “The little white…” So open up your ears like a rabbit and listen closely. Remember all the animals of the story, because we will talk about them at the end. Are you ready?"
The Little White Rabbit Who Wanted to Live in Peace
Once, a long, long time ago, there lived a dad and a mom rabbit who had lots of little baby rabbits of all different colors: black, grey, red, brown, speckled, and spotted. But, there was one baby rabbit, the smallest, who was all white, quite white. This family of rabbits lived with the other families in a big forest filled with big green trees, cool water springs, and lots of other animal families. The families of rabbits built their house under the branches of cedars to protect themselves from the rain and from the snow.
Sometimes, the little whiterabbit was left alone by his brothers and sisters, and even by his friends, simply because he was all white. Because he was a different color, nobody liked to play with him. Sometimes, thelittle whiterabbit got laughed at because he was smaller than everyone else. The other animals said mean words, words that hurt him very much. He was alone and sad. When the evening arrived and when the sun slowly gave its place to the moon,the little whiterabbitcouldn’t sleep because his brothers and sisters were bothering him. They bit his small ears, pinched his paws, and pulled his little tail.Thelittle white rabbithated it, but he didn’t know how to make them stop. Sad, as he watched the shadows of animals moving in the night, he dreamed to live in harmony, he dreamed about a better life.
The next morning,the little whiterabbitdecided to go for walk far in the forest to get away from his mean siblings. During this walk,the little whiterabbithoped to find somebody who could help him fix his problems and teach his family how to live in peace. After a long time walking in the big paths of the forest,the little whiterabbitpassed near the den of the fox. He knew that the fox was smart and knew many things, so he decided to ask him for help.
(Present the poster)
-" Hello Mister Fox! I am the little white rabbit and I want to live in peace. Could you give me a small trick because I know that you are so smart? "
The Cunning Fox, having listened to the story of the little whiterabbit, said this to him:
-“I think it’s very good that you are trying to live in peace, to find solutions to your problems. When I was young I wasn’t as crafty as I am today. Time has taught me to be calmer. Now when I am in a squabble, when somebody hurts me or doesn’t think the way I do, I breathe very deeply, I imagine a blue light around me. It helps me to be calm and relaxed. When I am calm like that, I can speak without yelling to fix the problem.”
The little white rabbit,happyto have a trick to live in peace, said thank you to the Cunning Fox and started again on his walk. The fox shouted to thelittle whiterabbit:
-" Remember, you have the power to create peace inside yourself. Just take three big breaths to be calm and quiet. It will chase away your anger and you can be relaxed again. In through the nose, out through the mouth, my quite white friend. "
A little farther down the road,the little whiterabbitmet Madam Owl. He had already heard how wise and kind the old owl was, so he decided to ask her for advice.
-" Hello Madam Owl! I am the little white rabbitand I want to live in peace. Could you give me a small trick because I heard that you never fight? "
-"Oh! You know, sometimes even I argue. However, I always try to solve the problem with the word, not with the claw. I take time to see the point of view of the other. We each take turns talking about our differences, and then decide how we want to fix them. Together we find solutions. I always try to find the best solution for the both of us."
-" And that's how you can live in peace? "
-" Yes, that's right. Now, you have a new trick to live in peace. Remember, you can speak to find answers, you don’t have to use force! "
The little whiterabbitthanked Madam Owl and continued his walk in the forest. He was happy to know this new magic trick.
A little later, he crossed the young Lynx. This small wildcat was famous for being a good listener.
-" Hello Mister Lynx! I amthe little whiterabbitand I want to live in peace. Can you help me? "
The young Lynx looked at him and said:
“With my Lynx eyes I can see things that are invisible. I know you are looking for ways to live in peace, so listen! In the past I kept things that bothered me inside; I was often angry and sad. I thought about no one but myself. Today, you see, I can say what I think, what I want and how I feel. On top of that, I ask others how they see things, what they want and what they feel in their hearts. In this way I can live in peace and so can the others. Now you know that it’s by thinking of both yourself and others that you will avoid squabbles and be able to live in a happier world.”
The little white rabbit thanked the young Lynx and went home. When he was nearly home he met some of his friends who teased him, said nasty things to him, poked fun at him because he was little and a different color than them. The little white rabbit took three deep breaths and imagined a blue light around him. Feeling calm, he headed for the most maddening ones to have a word with them. He asked them why they were doing that and told them that what they said made him sad. He told them how he wanted to be treated too. Together they found a solution that they were all happy with. (You can ask what solutions they think they found. Tell them they can illustrate, draw or write the solution in the drawing activity if they wish). Once the conflict was settled, the little white rabbit went home.
He told his parents about his adventure and how he could remain calm by following Mr. Fox’s advice, how he could speak to settle arguments as Mrs. Owl had explained to him, how he could consider himself and others to live in peace as the young Lynx had suggested. His parents listened carefully and congratulated him before suggesting he went to bed. As his father tucked him in, he said that he should spend a little time every day thinking about what he could do in order to live in peace. That night the little white rabbit had wonderful dreams because he now lived in a world where there was a little more peace.
The END …
3- RETURN ON THE TALE (4 min)
Question the children about their understanding of the tale. (After the children answer the questions, summarize their answer aloud and congratulate the child for listening.)
-Did you like the story of the little white rabbit who wanted
to live in peace?
- Who would like to quickly tell me what happened in the story? (Take different students, let them each tell a small part of the story.)
- Now, do you remember which animals he met?
-Do you remember the tricks each animal taught him?
(Present the posters of animals at the time of the explanation)
* Show posters and ask which trick each animal has to give.
Mister Fox: Breathe to calm down (Have the students practice breathing and imagining a blue light around them).
Madam Owl: To speak to resolve conflict.
Mister Lynx: To take into account himself and the others to live in peace.
4- REFLECTION ON LIVING IN PEACE (4 min)
Objective: To make the children aware of the feelings they feel during violent behavior and during peaceful behavior.
-How do you think the little rabbit feels when anybody hurts him?
-What does he feel when someone is nice to him?
-Do you believe that he prefers the hugs or pinches?
-What do you think a peaceful world is like?
5- ATTITUDES AND PEACEFUL BEHAVIOR (6 min)
Objective: To show the children attitudes and peaceful behavior to be adopted.
What can you do to live in peace when anybody hurts you, when you are sad or angry?
1- * You can breathe three times to calm down.
2-* You can speak, say what you feel. You can say that you don't like
it when somebody hurts your feelings and ask them to stop.
What things can you say to them? "Would you like it if I did that to you?”
“Arms are made hug, not to fight" “Playing is more fun than fighting” “Friends are better than enemies.”
However if you say these things in an angry way, by yelling, or by making the other person feel upset do you think it will work? No, you are just making it easier to fight more. You feel bad, and now the other person (or people) feels bad too.
What happens if you do not say anything when a person makes you upset or does something mean? Then you will never be able to change, to make a difference.It is like being the little white rabbit at the beginning of the story: he did not say anything when his brothers and sisters hurt him, he just left. It is important to speak to stop violent behavior.
Then, to help you to live in peace, how do you have to act? You do not get angry or get even, you show others how to stay away from violence.
3- It is important to take time to listen to the other person, to understand how they feel and together to find solution that makes you both happy. To live in peace, we think about ourselves and others.
4- You can use all these tricks at the same time, together, for the same problem.
6- HELPING HANDS (4 min)
Objective: To identify a support system for nonviolent behavior.
It is important to talk to somebody who can help you when you see problems or violence, if somebody hurts you or if you are sad. You can talk to somebody about it who you trust, like your parents or a teacher. Who do you trust? Name a grown-up person who can help you to live in peace.
7- DRAWING FOR A WORLD OF PEACE (15 min)
Objective: To allow every student to express their vision of a world of peace.
Ask the students to create a drawing or a poem of their idea of peace. Hang these creations where all can see: classes, gym, hallways, stairway, school office, etc. When the teachers are done displaying the work, the art could be forwarded to the Peace Ambassadors that were in the classrooms.
- Ask the children to name actions, words and gestures of peace, to describe a peaceful world. What do you see in your world of peace?
- Propose an example: In a world of peace, arms are made to hug. In your world of peace, what do you see?
- Take some examples and suggest what it might be like to live in the peaceful world all the students have designed.
- Now, make a drawingof you living in a world of peace.
- Tell the kids how much time they have (whatever is left from the 15 minutes) to do their drawings.
a) Ask each child to talk about his or her drawing.
b) Ask the child about possibilities not yet drawn.
(ex: What kinds of things would you be saying? How many people live here? )
c) Always to leave the choice of exploring further to the child.
8- REFLECTION ON DRAWINGS (5 min)
Objective: To recognize positive effects of living in a world of peace.
- The children are rejoined around the collective work.
- If drawings are not shown, ask certain children to come in front of the group to explain their world of peace.
- Ask certain children to identify the scene of peace represented in their drawing and to name the feelings of the various persons there.
End the reflection: "I would like to know, by raising your hand, how many of you would like to live in your world of peace? How many think it’s important to live in a world of peace? How many think it’s possible to live in a world of peace?"
Have the children notice all the hands up in the room, and help them realize what that means.
9- MINUTE OF PEACE (1 min or 30 seconds)
"To close, let us share one minute of peace, one minute when each of us will think of a gesture of peace that we can make today."
«Let us begin the minute … minute is ended.»
Ask the students what gesture of peace they will make today and suggest to them setting one minute (or 30 seconds) every day to think of gestures of peace.
10- END OF THE MEETING (1 min)
“Thank you all for your participation. From today on, you are all Peace Ambassadors."