Imagine what the world would be like if we were all a little kinder. Follow up watching this video by reading one of these books with your children. Then head out and do an act of kindness. Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud If I Were […]
September 21st is the International Day of Peace. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, this day is supposed to be a day of non-violence and cease-fire. Combatants everywhere in the world are asked to put down their weapons. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. That’s thirty-three years ago. A […]
In 1968 Jane Elliot, in reaction to the assassination of Martin Luther King the day before, introduced her all-white third graders to racism and prejudice by carrying out an activity which has become widely replicated in varying degrees. What did she do? She divided her class by eye color and then told the children that […]
There is something refreshing about starting a new year. It is a chance to look back over the past and resolve to step out in a new direction. New Year’s Day is one of the oldest holidays celebrated. Worldwide people gather with family, eat special foods, make noise, toast each other, and resolve to […]
By Dr. Joan Koster This is the time of year when children think about gifts. Gifts they dream of. Gifts they want. Gifts they will be getting. Gifts they’ve gotten. But isn’t it also the season of giving? Children naturally want to give to others. Research by Warneken and Tomasello (2006) demonstrated that children as […]
By Joan Koster You may be familiar with Stevie Wonder’s Song Someday at Christmas. Here is version you may not have seen. The war in East Congo has been going on for over twenty years and is being fought over copper, tin, and coltane (tantalite) – over 24 trillion dollars worth – all important components of your smartphones […]
There can be no peace on earth until we are at peace with the earth. Please join in singing this song with your students, your neighbors, your friends, your relatives, and your children. Then take action. Save the Whales Save the Rainforest Save the Polar Bears Save the Elephants Plastic in our Oceans Ban Fracking […]
If we wanted to build a flying car, we would look for people with a diversity of experience – engineers, designers, technicians, mechanics, cost analysts, etc. But would we also look for social diversity? Would having people from different ethnic backgrounds, races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations help us build a better flying car? So […]
Working cooperatively has been shown to be a highly effective teaching strategy in the classroom. Results from numerous research studies have shown improvement in academic performance, behavior, motivation, attendance, thinking skills, and peer relationships with those who are different from them. According to Roger and David Johnson of the Cooperative Learning Center, an effective cooperative […]
It’s a new year. Following in the tradition of the ancient Babylonians and Romans, it is time to make those pesky resolutions. What will you resolve to improve this coming year? Research by Richard Weisman on Quirkology has shown that the failure rate is 88%. However, when men set small goals such as losing 10 […]
The new school year has started. Teachers are busy educating their new students about how to behave in the classroom – How to make friends. How to help others. How to deal with bullies. In some school districts and states teachers are implementing new and tougher policies against bullying. These policies are very strict. Here, […]
What does it take to have a war? Soldiers – men and women willing to kill. A cause – any will do. Hatred – You can’t kill someone you love. Some times a children’s picture book can be more profound than the greatest philosopher. A children’s book puts into pictures and words concepts that are […]
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