Peace Education Through Childrens Literature Cindy Woodruff

ccwoodruff@aol.com Dr. Wendy Smith Loyola University wmsmith@loyola.edu

Peace begins within each of us.

Somewhere

Today by Shelley Moore Thomas

Our Inspiration: Rosa Parks

I

am leaving this legacy to all of youto bring peace, justice, equality, love and a fulfillment of what our lives should be. Without vision, the people will perish, and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die the dream of freedom and peace. 1988

Learning Objectives
Introduce the Peace Study Center Explore criteria for books that are culturally rich and relevant Look at Common Core connections Evaluate a selection of books Share resources for collection building on peace and conflict resolution topics

Peace Camp 2012 at Woodberry Crossing farm. This is an annual summer day camp for students in grades 2 to 5. Scholarships are available. Visit www.woodberrycrossing.org

Our Vision and Philosophy

Children's

literature is easily accessible for parents, teachers and caregivers Books require no batteries, tickets, or wrappings Books open doors to conversations with children that enhance their moral development

Books

build physical connections between the reader and the listener

Books

help children learn to look beyond themselves to the larger world

Books

link children's experiences to the experiences of others; they offer children a chance to compare their actions to those of the characters

Books

identify and build empathy with others in a safe environment of storytelling

Many children's books present moral dilemmas and provide role models that may not be available in a childs life. Books can open doors to role-playing opportunities. (Lemme et al. Literature-Based Moral Education, 1992.)

Jella Lepman: A Story to Share

The founding of the International Board on Books for Young People IBBY was the result of the visionary commitment of a remarkable woman, Jella Lepman (18911970). Born in Stuttgart, Germany, she became a politically active journalist. In 1936 she emigrated with her son and daughter from Nazi Germany to London and became a British citizen, working for the Foreign Office and the BBC during World War II and from 1941 for the American Broadcasting Station in Europe. She was engaged as advisor for questions relating to children and young people at the American headquarters in post-war Germany. Even without funds she went ahead and organized an exhibition of childrens illustrations and childrens books from 20 countries in Munich in 1946. With initial funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, she established the International Youth Library in Munich in 1949 and directed the library until 1957.

The Peace Study Center web site

LibraryThing: Our Catalog

Curriculum Kits

Peace Puzzle

What are the skills of peacemaking?

What kinds of books are in the Center?

We

Dream of a World by the Gifted and Talented Students of Pershing Accelerated School In University City, Missouri

Books that Encourage Self-expression and Participation

Books about Leaders and Current Events

Wangari's Trees of Peace By Jeanette Winter

http://www.peacesites.org/educators/resources/bookreviews/wangari%E2%80%99streesofpeaceatruestoryfromafrica

Hands Around the Library

By Karen Leggett Abouraya & Susan L. Roth

http://handsaroundthelibrary.com/

Collective Biographies
Americans Who Tell the Truth

Akira to Zoltan

Stolen Voices

Picture Books for Older Readers

Pink

and Say

The

War

Books about Peace

www.toddparr.com /books/

Books about Cultures

Carolina's Gift: A Story of Peru

Night of Las Posadas

Books about Emotions

When

Sophie Gets AngryReally, Really Angry

Volcano in my Tummy

Poetry Books
This

is the Dream

The

Palm of my Heart

Books for Parents and Teachers

Adventures

in Peacemaking by William Kreidler and Sandy Whittall Connected and Respected: Lessons from the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program by Jane Harrison and Ken Breeding How to Raise a Peaceful Child in a Violent World by Louise Diamond Peace in Everyday Relationships

Creating Culturally Relevant Collections to Support The Common Core #1

Honesty
An honest portrayal of culture

Creating Culturally Relevant Collections to Support The Common Core #2

Accuracy
Correctly depicts people and activities

Creating Culturally Relevant Collections to Support The Common Core #3

Reality
Realistic situations devoid of sensationalism

Creating Culturally Relevant Collections to Support The Common Core #4

Imagination
Opportunity for every child to use his/her imagination

Creating Culturally Relevant Collections to Support The Common Core #5

Appreciation
An honest portrayal of culture

Southern Poverty Law Center

http://www.splcenter.org/

Teaching Tolerance
www.tolerance.org

Bullied is a documentary film that chronicles one students ordeal at the hands of anti-gay bullies and offers an inspiring message of hope to those fighting harassment today. It can become a cornerstone of anti-bullying efforts in middle and high schools.

The vision of community that the early childhood classroom provides can color children's expectations about equity, cooperation and citizenship for a lifetime. This training kit for early childhood educators profiles seven innovative classrooms in which teachers are helping children practice fairness, respect and tolerance. "Starting Small" includes: 58-minute film featuring Vivian Gussin Paley Companion text (PDF) featuring classroom profiles, reflection prompts and activities

Rethinking Schools
www.rethinkingschools.org

Quakers
www.quakerbooks.org

United Nations
www.un.org or www.cyberbus.un.org

U.N. Peace Education

IBBY: International Board of Books for Young People

www.ibby.org

USBBY www.usbby.org

International Youth Library

http://www.ijb.de/entry2.html

Other Resources to Consider

Jane

Addams Book

Booklinks
School

Award American Indian Book Award CBC/USBBY Outstanding International Books Green Earth Book Award Notable Books for a Global Society

Library Journal Multicultural Review Skipping Stones Peace Arts Center at Bluffton University The Children's Peace Education & Anti-Bias Library

What can can we we do do for for you? you? What

Provide materials on loan, especially books from other countries and from small publishers Share ideas for classroom projects Provide curriculum materials and kits for loan Create resource lists on topics such as friendship, anger management, conflict resolution, community service, peace keepers

Find speakers and organizations who work with children

Present workshops to your parents and fellow teachers

What could you do for us?

Tell

us what you need to support you as a teacher, a student and a community member Volunteer in the Center a few hours a month Evaluate our resources and curriculum kits Suggest new materials to add to the Center Tell others about our resources Write book reviews and blog posts for our website

What can you share with What Can I Do in My Classroom? teachers or in the Library?
Introduce

class meetings into your day or week Create a peace table or corner in your classroom and model how to use it Create a peace puzzle with your students Re-visit your lessons and look for ways to add stories, discussions and projects that encourage peace-making skills; commit to it Set up a role model corner and feature a famous or not so famous peacemaker Make an appointment to visit the Peace Center soon