The love of Peace is so contagious. From Pakistan to Alaska to Morocco, back to Alaska, students share and spread peace, as globally connected citizens.
Through iEarn, International Education and Resource Network, we got to be a part of Global Hands for Peace. Our first school partner in Pakistan, created a Hands for Peace banner and sent it to us, which we have on display at our school.
Meanwhile, eagerly waiting for our banner, we created one for them.
We also took it one step further and created a Hands for Peace Mannequin Challenge and posted it on YouTube. Check it out, “Global Hands for Peace Mannequin Challenge”
When they got our banner, students were excited! They took pictures with our banner we sent!
We thought, why stop there, took it another step further, and decided to create a Global Hands for Peace banner for Ms. Carton to bring to share with the students in Morocco.
They really enjoyed the Global Hands for Peace banner and Project Global Peace video, and art, created by Alaskan students.
Students at the English school were even inspired by the Alaskan students’ peace art and banner and created amazing peace posters to send back to Alaska!
As we traveled south to Agadir, the Moroccan Global Hands for Peace banner made it to it’s final home, Essafa High School. Students felt heart warmed that Alaskan students created this for them.
This group of students were REALLY excited about the Global Hands for Peace project brought to them….
Moroccan students wanted to talk about Peace and share what it means to them. They created Peace art to travel back to Alaska.
In the end, the idea of Global Peace became full circle as Moroccan students created a Global Hands for Peace banner for Alaskan students.
The process of painting the hands was quite new:
We washed hands and brushes in a bucket right outside the classroom.
In the end, everybody was quite excited with the final results. The banners hung side by side, connecting morocco to Alaska through the ideas of peace.
Our painters were proud of their final banner.
Then we celebrated with Tea and cakes.
I’m so proud that this week, almost two months later, I get to present the Global Peace banner and Moroccan artwork, to Alaskan students!
I love how art was used to promote an abstract idea. I think it provided students a relevant hands on activity that allowed them to connect visually with their counterparts across the globe! I am a huge advocate for art in the classroom, and I love how simple and powerful this project is!
Art is such an incredible medium for communicating across cultures! Most of my projects are based in some form of art, be it music, or other. I strongly encourage you to join us for Dot Day in September https://www.globaleducationak.org/dot-day.html
I love this idea and activity. This would definitely be something that could be replicated with earlier grades, even preschool. In preschool, we teach about safe hands and caring hands, and not necessarily that same concept of ‘peace’ that this age group of students are learning about, but we definitely learn, with support, that we keep and promote ‘peace’ through things that we do.
I am very curious about the conversations that occurred with each group of students about their perspective of peace, based on where they live. I can imagine they were very different considering the areas in which the banners were sent from AK.
I definitely feel this is something fairly simple that early grades, especially preschool could get on board with trying.
Would love to share about the conversations (and the videos). Check out https://www.globaleducationak.org/peace-week.html and our global peace videos found at https://www.globaleducationak.org/videos.html
Your students are clearly setting an example for the world. What a lovely project!
Wow, talk about a butterfly effect! I love that you took it a step further and did the mannequin challenge. That is a great way to engage every student and keep it relevant in this advancing world.
It’s amazing how something little can ripple out and grow to touch so many in a positive way. This post reminded me of an Empty Hands Music video called Planting Seeds at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AmqYcWjBmc
Loving that music video! Thanks for sharing! Students will like it also