- May/Iyar
Speak Volumes Program – 2011/5771 – 2012/5772
Speak Volumes: A Jewish Values Based Family Reading Program
Iyar/May
This is the curriculum for
If I Had a Hammer: Ahavaat Shalom Bein Adam Lachaveiro/Making Peace Among People
Pre-K
“The first focus in life here on earth is to be at peace with all men.” ~ Rabbi Joel Ben Abraham Shemariah
A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley. National Geographic Society, © 2007. Each individual has the ability to spread “a little peace” wherever they go.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. What is peace?
3. Which picture in this book was your favorite? Why?
4. How can you spread a little peace?
5. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
Get some 3″ X 5″ cards and decorate them with colorful pictures. You can use stickers, crayons, glitter or magazine pictures pasted on the cards. Make them happy and pretty. Once you have 5-10 cards made up take them with you the next time you and your parent are “out and about.” Give them to a police officer, store clerk or someone standing in line with you at the market. Be sure you say, “Have a Nice Day!” As you hand them the card. If they ask you why you are handing out cards, tell them you are spreading Peace.
Kindergarten
“Mankind must remember that peace is not God’s gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other.” ~ Elie Wiesel (1928-) Writer, Professor, Noble Peace Prize Winner, Holocaust Survivor
Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class by Eileen Spinelli. Illustrated by Anne Kennedy. Albert Whitman & Company, © 2009. Miss Fox’s students are constantly bickering with each other, and she is tired of listening to it. She declares “Peace Week,” a week of respect and kindness for everyone. It starts out to be very difficult, but after a few days, the class is wondering why every week isn’t Peace Week.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. What are some of your ideas for Peace Week?
3. Practice giving complements to members of your family. Make sure that what you say is true and nice.
4. How did you feel when you received a complement from someone?
5. Describe a situation where you might use one or more of the peace keeping skills described in the story.
6. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
Make a thank you note for someone who did something nice for you recently. Make sure you do your very best job to make the card as pretty as possible. Once you have finished it, give the card to the person along with a big hug.
First Grade
“The more charity, the more peace.” ~ Pirke Avot/The Sayings of the Fathers
Paulie Pastrami Achieves World Peace by James Proimos. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, © 2009. At seven years of age, Paulie Pastrami began to make the world a better place by doing small things like being kind to animals and taking care of plants. When he decided he must achieve World Peace, he got a lot of cupcakes, his dad to drive him around, and … well, you can read the rest.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. What is peace?
3. Talk about one thing you can do today that would make the world more peaceful.
4. Why do you think Paulie took on such a large project?
5. Describe a large project that you dream about doing someday.
6. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
Ask a local food pantry, homeless shelter or convelescent home what kind of foods they might like to have during the month of May. See if your family can prepare something that will meet that need and deliver it.
Second Grade
“No good thing, and no peace, ever comes from arguing.” ~ Exodus Rabbah 30:17
Cain & Abel: Finding the Fruits of Peace by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg. Jewish Lights Publishing., © 2001. The biblical story (Genesis 4: 1-16) of the first case of sibling rivalry is retold here in a way that explores the reasons for Cain’s anger, the cause of Abel’s death and the lasting effects of both on today’s world.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. Describe a time when you have been angry at someone you love. What did you do with your anger?
3. How do you think Cain and Abel might have avoided being so angry with each other?
4. Talk about something you did that you wish you could go back in time and undo. Discuss with your family if there is a way to “make things right.”
5. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
Draw a picture for someone you love, but sometimes argue with.
Third Grade
“Wherever peace reigns, you need no courts.” ~ Tosefta, a compilation of Jewish Oral Law
Peace One Day: The Making of World Peace Day by Jeremy Gilley. Illustrated by Karen Blessen. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, © 2005. One person can make a difference, as Jeremy Gilley proves with his persistence in writing letters and travelling the world in order to get two country’s leaders to sponsor a World Peace Day amendment at the United Nations.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. Describe something you believe in so much, you would make sure you meet presidents in order to make it happen.
3. How do you think the author felt on September 11, 2001?
4. After reading Jeremy’s story do you believe “one person can make a difference? Why or why not?
5. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
World Peace Day is September 21, 2012. You and your family can go to the website at http://peaceoneday.org to find out what activities are planned for that day and what you can do to help. Get involved. You can make a difference!
Fourth & Fifth Grades
“Who is a hero? The man that turns an enemy into a friend.” ~Avot deRabbi Nathan (The writings of Rabbi Nathan) 700-900 C.E.
The Cupcake Club: Peace, Love and Cupcakes by Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk. Sourcebooks, Inc., © 2012. How do you take on someone who is making your life miserable? By doing something delicious.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. Describe a time when you had to work with someone difficult (like Meredith). How did you handle that individual?
3. What kind of club would you like to start? List some of the people who would be in it.
4. Discuss what Kylie did to Meredith at her birthday party. What are some better ways she could have handled that situation?
5. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
Perhaps you would like to start a Peace Club at your school. World Peace Day is September 21, 2012. You and your family can go to the website at http://peaceoneday.org to find out what activities are planned for that day and what you can do to help. Get involved. You can make a difference!
Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Grades
“Peace cannot be kept by force, but through understanding.” ~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Jewish, German-born, nobel prize winning physicist
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci. Illustrated by Jim Rugg. Minx, © 2007. When her parents move her out of New York City and into the suburbs, Jane thinks her life is over. Then she meets a group of girls who meet her standards for “changing the world.”
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. The town describes the work of P.L.A.I.N. as “Art Attacks.” How would you describe them and why?
3. Why do you think Jane’s mom is so concerned about the P.L.A.I.N. installations? Is she overreacting?
4. Why was Jane so empowered by John Doe/Miroslaw Raminski?
5. What do you think happens between Jane and Damon? Between Jane and Miroslaw?
6. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
Perhaps you would like to get involved with World Peace Day on September 21, 2012. You and your family can go to the website at http://peaceoneday.org to find out what activities are planned for that day and what you can do to help. Get involved. You can make a difference!
High School
“Peace cannot be kept by force, but through understanding.” ~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Jewish, German-born, nobel prize winning physicist
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle. Henry Holt and Company, © 2008. Using free verse, Margarita Engle tells the story of a f. reed slave who becomes a healer watching her country fighting for freedom.
Questions:
1. This story is an example of Ahavaat Shalom/Making Peace Among People. Give some examples of why it was chosen for that reason.
2. Rosa heals whoever comes to her for help. Why do you think she does that?
3. Why is Lieutenant Death so determined to kill Rosa, even after she healed him?
4. What do you think Rosa has learned after witnessing so many wars?
5. Adults: Read the quote associated with this book. How do you think it applies to the book you just read?
Activities:
World Peace Day is September 21, 2012. You and your family can go to the website at http://peaceoneday.org to find out what activities are planned for that day and what you can do to help. Get involved. You can make a difference!
©2012 Kathleen M. Bloomfield, forwordsbooks.com and Speak Volumes all rights reserved.
Supported by a Grant from The Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ Family Connections Newsletter.
Books used in this program came from publishers as review copies, my own collection, or my local public library. I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click on a book title referred to on my web site and purchase it from Amazon, I may receive a very small commission on your purchase. You will incur no additional cost, however.
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