Newsflash! Peace Tree Day

Today is international Peace Tree Day! Peace Tree Day, celebrated on June 1, is a day where on bare branches, children put diverse symbols of peace on and the tree is then admired by many. To learn more, go to http://www.peacetreeday.com/ and to learn how to create your own peace tree, click here.
~Alison

www.peacetreeday.com

Activity: Peace Ribbon

In this activity, you will need a ribbon and a thin fabric marker or sharpie. On the ribbon with the marker, write a peaceful message and sign your name. Then get all of your friends to sign. You can hang it up on a bulletin board or if it is short enough, wear it as a bracelet. Here are our peace ribbons:

This one we all signed. This was done in sharpie.

With a fabric marker, I wrote the Girl Scout Promise.

~Alison

Activity: Tibetan Prayer Flags

In the Himilayas, along the peaks of some of the tallest mountains of the world, there is something like a clothesline, and you hang something called a prayer flag on it. And prayer flags are not only in Tibet or the Himilayas. I have seen them at my local art center, and Margaret has some hanging in her room! So lets make our own prayer flags! Many of the Himilayan flags have peace on them and, well, as you guessed, let's write peace on them!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/jan/07/oxygen-mount-everest-intensive-care

What You'll Need:

• Colorful piece of fabric (preferably something thin; see picture above)
• Fabric Markers (or Sharpies)
• Scissors
• String

Instructions:

1. First, cut your colorful fabric so that there are two slits on either end of the flag
2. Now, with your markers, decorate the prayer flag with peaceful designs (like the peace cirlcle or the word peace) NOTE: You can be even more creative and sew or just remain simple!
3. Now string your prayer flag onto the string and hang!

The Evolution of my flag:

     Step 1: I used fleece, which I do NOT recommend- use very thin fabric!
     Step 2: Sorry about the cut off- my scanner is only so thick.

     Step 3: Here it is all strung up! I looped the string around the slits.

We would also love to see your finished Tibetan Prayer flag!


~Alison

Activity: Coloring Pages

Grab your colors and get to work! Here are some coloring pages that are peace-related. These are our original art pieces so, please, DO NOT CLAIM THEM AS YOUR OWN. You can print them out and use them toward educational purposes, but do not copy. All of them but the first three were hand drawn by yours truly. Happy coloring!

~Alison

Activity: Peace Writing Promts

I know writing promts aren't the most exciting activities, but it will have to do. You can comment your piece(s) to this post so that people can see it (if you want to share it).

1) Do you have any personal experiences in which someone said something mean to you and you told them to stop? Or have you stood up to someone for a friend? Describe your experience.

2) Is there any other word you would describe peace as? Explain your answer.

3) Anylyze the word peace. What does it mean? What does it mean to you? Use your own words to describe the word peace.

I will comment my responses soon. But it may take a while, and remember I am not correct. All of these promts have no answer. They all lead into narrative pieces. When you write, just be yourself and don't be afraid to digress. The sky is not the limit. Go into the universe with your writing. Have fun. :) This won't be graded and is totally optional.

~Alison

Assembling The Kits

Today's meeting was pretty much devoted to assembling the necessary materials for our peace kits.  It was an excellent lesson in working together... lots of communication had to happen, to make sure we each knew what the other one was doing!  As of right know, we are working on editing and writing the information that will go into our actual kits.  Trust me, it's a long process.  But all of the information is really meaningful, so it's enjoyable to read.  And it's almost as fun to create pro-peace games as it is to play them!  We have 172 days until our Silver Award is due, so it's crunch time, baby!

~Troop 60435

Newsflash! Anti-Bullying Day

Every year, on the last Wednesday of February, there is an "Anti-Bullying Day" or "Pink Shirt Day" in Canada. You don't have to be Canadian to participate! Today, February 29, is Anti-Bullying Day. Show your love for anti-bullying by wearing a pink shirt or showing peace. For ideas, see our post on ways to show peace activity post, click here.

~Alison

Activity: Ways to Show Peace (to others)

There are many ways to show peace to others. You can sit next to them at lunch, say hi in the hallways, or just share a smile. These are my top fifteen ways to show peace:
1. Smile :D
2. Introduce yourself if you don't already know them. Be relaxed, and be yourself.
3. Say "Hi." It doesn't matter where - just say hi!
4. Don't cross your arms or shrug, stand tall and you will look more respectful.
5. If somebody looks down, cheer them up!
6. Listen. It is as simple as that. Don't interrupt or argue as much (you can express your opinion, but don't argue).
7. Be optimistic. Who wants an unhappy friend? Every cloud has a silver lining!
8. Manners, manners, manners. Be polite to your friend(s), they with or without knowing, admire your manners.
9. Offer to help with something. Are you in art and you're done? Offer to help with another person's project.
10. Compliment. Who doesn't enjoy a compliment? Do you like his/her backpack? Pen? Top? Complimenting shows that you pay attention.
11. Please don't gossip, backstab, or bully. This is the utmost worst thing you can do to others and yourself. Do you want to be known as the gossip hub?
12. Create conversation. Talk about anything. What is the person carrying? Ask about that. The chances are, they probably want to meet you, too.
13. Don't say anything rude or on-edge. You might insult that person. And don't swear, cuss, or use bad words.
14. Patience is the key. Is the person super-kind of annoying? Just grin and bear through the rest of the conversation. Still be polite.
15. Treat others the way you want to be treated. It's as simple as that.

~Alison

Activity: Ways to Show Peace (Pictures)

This week I decided to show different mediums to show peace in. "Medium" is an art term meaning  a substance in which you create art with (those are my own words). Enjoy!

A drawing of peace

Crumpled piece of paper to make peace.

An oil painting

An other oil painting

And a loooooonnnng piece of braided yarn. It took me forever to make!

Reminder: All of these images are our original pieces. We do have a copyright on our blog and all of the images with it. So if you do decide to use our photos, please give us credit. Thanks!
~Alison

Activity: Peace (Symbols)

Like languages, there are many ways to say "peace." These are all universal ways to say peace, or anyone, whether if they are Asian or Brazillian, they understand these symbols.

Last week I posted this at the end of the Language activity post. It is the most common way to sign "peace."

And this is the most common peace sign

A paper crane is the Japanese symbol of peace.

A dove carrying an olive branch is another sign of peace. . .

. . . and so is just a plain olive branch.

And finally, an Italian peace flag (remember pace from last week?)

Activity: Peace (Languages)

There are many ways to say peace. You can do the two-finger method, or say it in foreign languages.
I have compiled a list of the word "peace" in many different ways. Enjoy!

German - Freiden (FRI- den)
French - la paix (la pay)
Spanish - paz
Afrikaans - vrede
Arabic - salun (SAL-un)
Czech - mir
Dutch - vrede (FRE-duh)
Greek - erini (YA- rini)
Korean - peonghwa
Hungarian - beka (BE-ka)
Icelandic - friour (FRE-hooh)
Italian - pace (PA-cha)
Japanese - Heiwa (HEY-wa)
Latin - pacem (PA-chem)
Polish - pokoj (PA-kwi)
Romanian - pace (like Italian)
Russian - mir
Swahili - amani
Swedish - fred (e souds like ay)
Turkish - baris (BA-rish)

Please, if you have any other language suggestions, please comment them and I will add! Also, if you say the words in a cool accent, it sounds really cool!

~Alison