Grade Level: This kindergarten unit on world peace consists of four lessons which center around the Worldwide Peace Day scheduled for January 1, 2000.

Purpose of Lesson: Through discussion and a variety of hands-on activities, teach students the meaning of peace, the value of world peace and the individual commitment it requires

Length: Lesson 1 - 1 class period. Lessons 2, 3, 4 require more time depending on the number of computers.

History-Social Science Content Standards:

K1. Students demonstrate an understanding that being a good citizen involve acting in certain ways, in terms of:

1.examples of rules, such as sharing and taking turns, and the consequences of breaking them.

2.examples of honesty, courage, determination, individual responsibility, and patriotism in American and world history, in stories and in folklore.

History-Social Science Thinking Standards: Kindergarten-Grade 5

Historical Interpretation

3.Students identify and interpret the multiple causes and effects of historical events.

4.Students conduct cost/benefit analyses of historical and current events.

 

English-Language Arts

 

Reading Comprehension

Students identify the basic facts and ideas in what they have read, heard, or viewed. They use comprehension strategies (e.g., generating and responding to questions, comparing new information to what is already known)

Comprehension and Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text (Kindergarten)

2.2 Use pictures and context to make predictions about story content.

2.3 Connect to life experiences the information and events in texts.

2.4 Retell familiar stories.

2.5 Ask and answer questions about essential elements of a text.

 

Listening and Speaking Strategies: Students listen and respond to oral communication. They speak in clear and coherent sentences.

Comprehension:

1.1. Understand and follow one- and two-step oral directions

 

1.2. Share information and ideas, speaking audibly in coherent, complete sentences

Teacher materials: This unit requires a computer with Internet connection. It is primarily a computer unit.

Interdisciplinary connections: The subject of world peace crosses all curricular bounds. It introduces kindergarten students to the world outside the family and the classroom. The unit attempts to teach the power of individual effort and commitment when combined with the community of mankind to reach a common goal.

Adaptations for special needs: This unit requires basic introduction to computer use on the kindergarten level. Each lesson requires help with reading for the directions and some assistance on letter writing.

Background information/ and additional resources:

1. Build on the basic theme of the Unit: Live a peaceful life: Respect...Talk it out... Listen ... Love...

2. Below is a summary of world peace activities and websites abridged from: One Day In Peace Network.

Activities:

• Write letters of peace to leaders, institutions, organizations and celebrities. Ask them to endorse the message of a day of Peace on January 1, 2000.
• Join millions of others around the world in the universal wish: MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!
• Observe September 15: International Day of Peace
• Observe Earth Day 2000 (on the Spring Equinox and again on April 22) hopes to unite the world in dedication to preserving the planet we share.

Websites

• Ask your favorite website to link to Kids for Peace and One Day In Peace Network - http://members.aol.com/kidz4peace/ and www.oneday.net
• Newsletter about peace activities, "PEACE ON EARTH Talk," available via email every month. Please send an email to info@oneday.net with "subscribe" in the subject line.
• Planet Earth Peace Day http://www.globalgathering.com/
• Kid Cast http://creativity.net/kidcast2.html

3. California Academic Standards addressed by the unit:

 

K.1 Students demonstrate an understanding that being a good citizen involves acting in certain ways, in terms of:

1. Examples of rules, such as sharing and taking turns, and the consequences of breaking them.
2. Examples of honesty, courage, determination, individual responsibility, and patriotism in American and world history, in stories and in folklore.
3. The beliefs and related behavior of characters in stories from times past, and the consequences of their actions.

K.4 Students compare and contrast the locations of people, places, and environments and describe the human and physical characteristics of places by:

1. Determining the relative location of objects using near/far, left/right, behind/in front
2. Distinguishing between land and water and locating general areas referenced in historically-based legends and stories on maps and globes

K.5 Students put events in temporal order by using a calendar, placing days, weeks, and months in proper order.

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Credits: This unit was written by Barbara Garrison

Sweetwater Union High School District

1130 5th St. Chula Vista, Ca. 91911