"Peace Builders" (Fall 2015)
Peace Builders ProjectOur first project as a community focused on building peace between each other and creating our space for learning and growing together. As students explored what peace meant to them, we investigated feelings within ourselves and others through the zones of regulation, shared about what makes us feel at peace, and learned how interact with friends positively through play, problem solving, and communication. Students also focused on the process required for building a structure. Using math, science, and engineering skills, kindergarteners built a community table for their peace place.
Essential Questions: What is peace? How can we create a community space where we all feel comfortable and included? How can we find our inner peace? How can we interact peacefully with others?
Products:
- Sensory “Peace” table where students can go to find their inner peace through their senses, investigate conflicts, and communicate with peers.
- “I Message” storyboards
- “Peace Place” space in the classroom
- “The World is a Rainbow” singing performance
Field Work and Experts:
Jack’s Pond: Students used their senses to explore peace in nature.
Legoland: Students investigated building and structures with legos.
Meditation/Yoga Expert
Zones of Regulation Expert
Storyboard Expert
Stations at Exhibition:
Zones of Regulation: Students learned about the zones of regulation, which help to identify feelings, and foster self regulation and emotional control.
Yoga and Breathing: Students participated in Yoga with the Sean O’Shea Foundation every Wednesday. We learned how to manage our emotions through breathing, self-awareness and healthy movement. Students learned a variety of breathing techniques to calm their bodies and minds.
Peace Place: Students wanted to create a space in our classroom that felt calming and peaceful. Students used their senses to investigate things that make them feel peaceful. We incorporated those things into their special place.
I messages: As students began to identify their feelings, they learned how to use “I messages” to create peaceful interactions. An “I message” is a way of saying how you feel without attacking or blaming others.
Peace Flowers: As a class, students decided how we could share peace throughout our school. We decided to present classes with a string of watercolor peace flowers and share the peaceful song, “The World is a Rainbow” with other classes in our school.
Table Building Process: Students used math, science, engineering, and design skills to build a table for their peace place. We built prototypes through design and decided on materials together. We practiced measuring, using tools safely, and building a strong, functional structure.
Peace Table: Students built this table to use in our peace place.