Peace Begins With Us

Think about the regions of the world today where war has become a way of life and where peace seems to be a distant dream. Meet with classmates in a small group and discuss ways of helping to achieve peace in the world. Then, work together on one of the writing projects below, or create a peace project of your own. Present your project to the class.

• Recipes for Peace. Design a set of Recipes for Peace, listing ingredients and directions for attaining peace on large recipe cards or index cards for each recipe. Punch a hole in the top left corner of each card; strengthen the holes with reinforcers. Make a cover, compile the cards behind it, and slip a metal clasp ring through the holes.

• Peace Begins With Us. Brainstorm with your group as many ways as you can think of to maintain peace among family members, school companions, or people in your community. Use a large piece of chart paper or poster board to write and illustrate the list. Display your chart in the classroom.

• I Get Angry When. . . With the members of your group, brainstorm situations that cause students to become upset and angry. Try to come up with about five. Next, write the phrase "I Get Angry When..." on the top of each of five pieces of white construction paper. Complete the phrases with one of the situations that you brainstormed. Illustrate each. Display the papers in the classroom.

• I Used to Think That. . . On a piece of paper, write the following sentence: I used to think that peace . . ., but now I know . . .. Discuss in your group the possible ways to complete the sentence. (For example, I used to think peace was none of my concern, but now I know I need to become involved.) Choose several sentence endings to use for this activity. Using sentence strip paper or strips of construction paper, write your completed sentences. Perhaps you could display these on a classroom bulletin board.

• Dear Abby. Cut out "Dear Abby " or other advice column articles from the newspaper. Share them in your group. Then each of you should write your own questions about peace in a letter and address the letter to "Dear Abby" or another advice columnist. Your group becomes "Dear Abby." Exchange the letters among group members and write a response to each question. Share the letters and the responses with the rest of the class.