SEPTEMBER 2015
E L E M E N TA R Y S C H O O L N E W S & E V E N T S
What Would a Peaceful World Look Like? By Jeff Underhill, Grade 5 Teacher
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n 2001, filmmaker Jeremy Gilley sought to create a day of peace for our world. As a result, Sept. 21 is now officially Peace Day, endorsed by the United Nations and celebrated worldwide as a day of ceasefire and learning. “Peace One Day Education aims to inspire young people to become the driving force behind the vision of a united and sustainable world by advancing active learning in the areas of reconciliation, intercultural cooperation, and global citizenship — using Peace Day 21 September as its focus.” (source: http://PeaceOneDay.org) On Peace Day at APIS, the third, fourth, and fifth grade students performed a Peace Day drama, teaching about conflict and peace through six skits. Fifth graders portrayed scenes from the SpanishInca War of 1532, teaching about steel technology and its deciding role in that battle and military conflicts since, as well as the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and the ensuing peaceful friendship of the two countries. Fourth graders taught about the Korean War and Korea’s present situation as a people divided, as well as community and how we can all be peaceful by spending more time together. Third graders taught about kindness and how to handle interpersonal conflict in a peaceful way. Following the Peace Day drama, the young peacemakers enjoyed leading Peace Day activities for younger students, playing games, reading aloud books on peace, face painting peace symbols, and creating peace cards, bags, and bracelets. The goal of our APIS Peace Day 2015 celebration was to bring awareness to our world’s need for peace, and that peace begins inside of each one of us. Students came away from Peace Day with a deeper awareness of conflict and peace, and a growing understanding of our role as global citizens.
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