"PLANTING" ROCKS for PEACE

ACTIVITY
     Several days before International Peace Day (9/21/06) children of all ages design a Rock for Peace (a river rock with the word "Peace" and an accompanying design).  On Peace Day after a short ceremony designed by the children where a few words of Peace are spoken over their rocks, the children take the rocks home.  With their parents for supervision if needed (for younger children) the kids approach a neighbor or someone they don't know and ask them if they can plant the rock in their yard. A homework assignment could be given to write about their experience and on the following day children could share their experience of giving and "planting" their rock.

OBJECTIVES
     * To facilitate classroom discussions on peace, cultural diversity, global
    connection, and social responsibility
     * To provide a grassroots way to facilitate peace
     * To foster community connection 

The more senses involved, the better learning takes place.  The children see and touch the rocks.  They hear discussions about peace.  They take what they have created and communicate what they have learned, sharing it with someone new.
There is power in the connection.  And anyone who sees the rock in a yard will stop and think something about peace, if only for a moment.

MATERIALS
     * River rocks or any rock at least 6 inches at it's widest point
     * Practice paper
     * Paints.  Fabric paint in squeezable bottles works well and no brushes are 
    needed.  Any paint that will adhere to a rock and weather the elements is fine.
     * Brushes if nonsqueezable paints are used

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE
     * Begin discussions of peace, cultural diversity, global connection and social 
    responsibility on Monday 9/18.  You-or-me world vs. you-and-me world
     * Several days before International Peace Day children choose their rock and 
    paints. Have a palate of how the colors look since many of the squeezable 
    paints look different when dry. 
     * Each child practices a few strokes on paper to get the feel of the flow of the 
    squeezable paints.
     * The word "Peace" is written/painted on the rock and the rest of the rock 
    designed.  One day drying time needed for squeezable paints
     * On International Peace Day--Peace ceremony designed by the children with
    a setting of their intention for the giving and "planting" of their rocks.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR HOMEWORK/DISCUSSION
     * What was the best part of the activity for you (from choosing your rock to 
    giving it away)?  Why?
     * How did the person to whom you gave your rock react to your gift?
     * What kind of thoughts do you think will go through the mind of the person
    who sees your rock?
     * What did you learn?
     * Besides this project, what can you do to promote peace in the world?
     
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 FYI:
    Contact your local home supply/rockery about possibly providing rocks to kids   for free for this Peace Project.  Central Home Supply in Santa Cruz, Ca. has offered to do that for our community.

    Some of the fabric squeeze paints take getting used to.  I prefer the ones with the smallest opening for better control.  Young children may need to use colored waterproof marking pens instead.

    Although written as a lesson plan for kids, adults can have great fun with it as well.  I'm filling a box with Peace Rocks that I've decorated and am going to leave it at the entrance to the local greenbelt near my home with a sign encouraging everyone to "Plant" a Rock for Peace.  Next year I plan to invite friends to join in as well.

    Contact me at    intogrowing@sbcglobal.net