Here at Nederland Elementary School, we have been busy learning about what is unique about ourselves and each of our classmates. We are finding things in common with others. And we are finding things that make us different from one another. We are working on projects as a team where we must use the gifts that everyone brings to get the job done. We are working to create a strong sense of community in each classroom. It is not always easy. In all this, we are stressing the importance of ACCEPTING others and respecting them even when they aren't just the same as us.
Below are many ways that you can help your child continue to learn about the theme of Acceptance through READING about it, TALKING about it, and PRACTICING it.
READ ABOUT ACCEPTANCE! Here are some books to help you focus on acceptance:
Different Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
Beegu by Alexis Deacon
Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
It Ain't so Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas (4 -7th grade reader)
PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE! Together with your child, pick a few different foods, and try to eat them each with a spoon, knife and fork. Talk about what would happen if we only had forks? Or knives? Or spoons? Use this activity to talk about how our differences can make a stronger community.
TALK ABOUT ACCEPTANCE! Here are some discussion points to help you talk about acceptance with your child:
*What do you think acceptance means and why is it important?
*Tell me about someone in your class who is different than you. How can your differences be a good thing?
*What is one way you can show acceptance at school?
*Has anyone ever made you feel accepted? Tell me about it.
*What would the world look like if everyone was the same?
By talking directly with our children about Accepting Others for who they are as human beings, even when we disagree with them, we are planting the seeds for greater understanding between various groups in our society. During September, students and staff will gather to celebrate this year's International Day of Peace with colorful pinwheels they have created. Today's children are bombarded with television and movie images and video games that depict serious human conflict and war. Through the Pinwheels for Peace Project, we give this generation the chance to make a public visual statement about their feelings about war/peace/conflict/acceptance/cooperation/harmony/and unity. Students will create pinwheels of all shapes and sizes. They will write their thoughts about conflict and peace, division and harmony on one side. The entire school will hold their pinwheels outside in the wind as an art exhibit. This project was started in 2005 by two art teachers as a way for students to express their feelings about what is going on in the world and in their lives. Ask your child their thoughts about accepting others and working for a more peaceful world. Music teacher, Susan Jones, and art teacher, Susan Blurton, will lead Nederland Elementary School through this exercise.
No comments:
Post a Comment