September 21 – International Day of Peace

You can’t miss hearing about the horrors of being a Syrian refugee at the moment.  Whatever mode of news you open or turn on each day, there are more stories to let us know just how terrible the crisis is. I don’t know how many times I’ve read about how someone hopes and yearns for a place to settle and just live their lives in peace.

September 21^st marks the UN International Day of Peace, a day “devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.”

Seems to me that we might have a ways to go on this one.

Here are a few recommendations to open discussions and explore issues: 

ELEMENTARY

Peace by Wendy Anderson Halperin

The Toa Te Ching poses the question, how can we bring peace to the world?. Using beautiful quotes and illustrations the big concept of peace is explored, from a global perspective to more personal one.

Peaceful pieces: poems and quilts about peace by Anna Grossnickle Hines

A collection of poems beautifully illustrated with quilted pieces that offer reflections about the nature of peace and conditions that can conspire to create atmospheres where peace doesn’t exist.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

A historical novel that looks at the trials and tribulations of preteens during the period of the Cuban Missile crisis in the 60s. Included are all sorts of primary document sources like headlines of news articles, songs, poetry, and government pamphlets about safety if a nuclear bomb should be dropped.

Thanadelthur: peacemaker of the Chipewyan by Claude Belanger

Thanadelthur was a Chipewyan woman, who worked to establish peace with the Cree to promote better trade relations with the Hudson’s Bay Company in the early 1700s.  This short play could be used for readers’ theatre.

Why do we fight?: conflict, war and peace by Niki Walker

Looks at real world conflict situations to explore the issues related to war and peace.

SECONDARY

Kamakwie: finding peace, love and injustice in Sierra Leone by Kathleen Martin

Not the easiest of reads but illuminating nevertheless.  Martin recounts her time and the people she met while living in a village in Sierra Leone.  She explains how civil war has played a huge part in contributing to brutal living conditions which continue to impact the villagers.

Peace: the biography of a symbol by Ken Kolsbun

From the 50s to present, relates how this image has been used over time with lots of photographs.

TEACHING BOOKS

World peace and other 4^th grade achievements by John Hunt

Fascinating look at Hunter’s approach to teaching and his development of a simulation that taps into gaming and challenges young people to figure