14 Days In December: Schools


	SCHOOL EVENTS To download the Official 14 Days In December Logo, click here! Some events that have been participated in, and can still be done every year in the public school system include: Peace Garland Each grade level in a school is assigned a colour and ribbons can be purchased to assemble a Peace Garland. This Garland is to be strung across the front of the school for the 14 Days. The colour and their meaning, as well as the grade level they are assigned to are: Primary White Hope Grade 1 Orange Peace in the Classroom Grade 2 Purple Peace in the Family Grade 3 Pink and Blue Respect for Gender Grade 4 Red Love Grade 5 Green Environment Grade 6 Yellow International Colour of Peace Requirements: Garland, multi-coloured A Peace Quilt Each class can brainstorm ideas that were representative of peaceful activities in their families. They then chose one idea to contribute to the Peace Quilt. Each piece can be made of white fabric and decorated as the class sees fit. Some ideas for the materials to be used are felt, fabric paint, beads and sequins, etc. The quilt can then be assembled by parent volunteers and can be hung in a prominent place in the school or community (seniors home, the bank, a church) each year. Requirements: Adult Volunteers Material for quilt as stated above View the Lakeview Peace Quilt Below Family Peace Posters Each family in the school can be given ¼ piece of Bristol board and asked to construct a poster that would represent their family. They are to be projects that the families can work on together and can be used to adorn the walls of the gymnasium for example. Requirements: Bristol board Family Peace Collage Families can be asked to send in a picture representative of peaceful living. These pictures can then be formed into a collage for a main bulletin board or focal point in the school. R.A.S.K.A.L. Awards R.A.S.K.A.L. originally stood for Random Acts of Simple (Sincere) Kindness At Lakeview (however the A.L. can be substituted for "and Love") and was started at Lakeview School. These awards are created in whatever shape you wish to use (they used a child's handprint) and are given out to the children when they perform kind deeds. The award is made of construction paper, the colours corresponding to the Peace Garland. The children can be nominated by classmates, teachers, peers etc. for kind acts. The child's name and the deed performed can be written on the handprint and then the handprint is mounted in the hallway. By the end of the '14 Days' the idea is to have all the hands joined from class to class, signifying that the hands have been used for helping, not hurting. Requirements: Construction paper (colours: white, red, blue, pink, orange, yellow, purple, green) Peace Candles This candle may be lit each day from December 1st to 14th in celebration of "14 Days in December". Its light encourages us to respect one another and to reflect on the importance of peace in our homes, our schools and our communities. The purple ribbon reminds us of those who have suffered from senseless acts of violence. Download the Peace Candle Wrapper by clicking here! Peace Cards Children are given cards with the dove logo on the front and an empty space on the back. The child is than given the task of filling in the back with a drawing or poem that incorporates the idea of 'Gentle Ways Are Best'. To obtain copies of these on card stock, please visit the contact section of this site. To download copies for print, click here! (When printing, if asked about margins size, say yes and/or print anyway) Peace In The Business Business cards can be designed with images or poems that convey the message 'Gentle Ways Are Best', they then can be given out throughout the businesses in the community, who can then be asked to include the cards when they are making sales to a customer. To download the business card templates, click here! Secret Friend Each child can have one special friend within his/her class that will be the beneficiary of secret acts of thoughtfulness and kindness. This can be drawn out of a hat for the name. Sharing Day Students can discuss and share the value of helping and giving to others in need. Introduce the Tower of Cans and the Peace Pond. Invite students to make a wish at the Peace Pond as they toss their coin. The money collected will go towards a local charity and cans to the food bank. Requirements: "Pond" (which can be anything that is attractive/can hold water) My Peace Bracelet This bracelet is created as a reminder to work hard every day to promote peace. If we act in peaceful ways, it can be passed on to others. The idea is to make a bracelet filled with beads, each bead representing an idea. For example, an orange bead can represent peace in the classroom, a purple bead shows peace in the family, pink and blue beads represent respect for gender, red beads for love, green beads for environment, yellow beads for peace (yellow is the international colour for peace), there can be beads for kindness, helping, sharing, respect, caring, any idea the children can think of. It's important to encourage the children to think of their own ideas for each bead, and it is also important to make sure they remember what each one represents to them. The way to convey it to them is that each bead you add needs a peaceful reason to go on their bracelet. Ask them to tell the person beside them what each bead means as they add them, so they will remember them better. While the students are making their beads, the teacher should walk around and ask the children to explain the meaning of some of their beads. Before they leave at the end of the day, remind them to try and remember the meaning of their beads and when they get home, to explain it to their parents as well. Requirements: Package of beads, multi-coloured String Peace Chain The idea behind this is to include the whole school in the gym, but can be done just as well with a class in the classroom. The children are to take some time and think about what they will do for peace. They should then be given different coloured strips of construction paper, (primary/white, one/orange, two/purple, three/pink & blue, four/red, five/green, six/yellow). This is where the whole school comes in. The children are then to find someone from a different grade (and a different colour) and tell each other what they will do for peace. They are then to see a teacher and get their strips stapled together. Once this happens, they then have to find another group of two that are already stapled, the four then discuss again their ideas of peace, then come back and have all four stabled together. This continues until all strips are joined. Requirements: Construction paper, multi-coloured Stapler Peace Pledge To be distributed to the children and read aloud. I pledge that I will have the courage to respect myself and others and always act in a peaceful manner. I will not hurt, ridicule, put down or bully anyone. If I ever forget this pledge, I promise to learn from my mistake and keep trying! The children are then to sign the card and keep it with them! Download pledge cards by clicking here! Bookmarks To be distributed to the children. Download bookmarks by clicking here!