Teach youth that anger can be a healthy emotion, and that it informs us about the importance of an issue. Teach them to remain calm when dealing with anger by breathing deeply and using attentive body language. Teach them how to help an angry person discover the cause of their anger by restating. Use “I” …
This can be a very valuable and eye-opening exercise that can be done with all ages, child to adult. There are many definitions of peace in the world, some academic, others emotional, and many in between. The purpose of asking people their definition is to get them to reflect on the concept and what it …
Use art, media, song, and dance to create more impactful messaging and learning. Have youth present and understand peer relationships, social studies, literature, and current events by exploring the arts of a particular time or place. Have them write poetry, prose, letters, or journal entries from the perspective of others far away in time or …
Create a list or use pictures to chart individuals’ values, rules or expectations. Wherever there is a common value or expectation, you’ll find the foundation for a description of shared values, rules or expectations that will guide the groups’ behavior and interactions with one another moving forward.
Have children sit or stand in a circle. The group counts from one to ten. Anyone can say a number, but if two people say a number at the same time, everyone has to start again from the beginning. This can be difficult, but it is worth persisting. It builds concentration, togetherness and awareness of …
These are promises people make to each other about how to act toward one another. They create shared accountability to outcomes. Find contract templates online or craft them together as a family or class with categories/sections that highlight the needs and wants of the community, the commitments made to one another, and the consequences for …
Help everyone in a group to get to a decision that they can be satisfied with by brainstorming and writing out a list of outcomes as well as responses to each outcome. Is there an outcome that most or all are pleased with? If not everyone is pleased with any one outcome, is there an …
Youth draw a map that identifies relationships people have with each other. From that map, they identify key decision-makers as well as people that might be missing or under-represented. They can take a look at where the power is held and discuss if all people identified have a voice. In an effort to more completely …
After exploring some of the many facets of representative democracy, including voting, representation, free speech, assembly etc., youth identify ways to: a) participate and connect with other voices and citizens in their community; b) challenge our democracy to grow in terms of equality, fairness, and social justice; and c) serve others in their community in …
Research shows that practicing pro-social behaviors is essential to internalizing these dispositions. Have youth form small groups of two to four. Hand out a sample age-typical conflict. Tell them they must create two skits. One skit will demonstrate how not to solve a conflict through the incorporation of words that utilize anger and blame, …