Prior to the Presentation

IF the timing of the 1WOW^TM program at your school doesn’t encourage a link to your basic curriculum, here are ideas on using it to promote conflict resolution techniques and tolerance. Teachers will find it supportive to have students discuss...  

... the concept of peace. It is the unifying vision of each theme listed above. Whether computers or rockets or friendships or teams, we create what we can clearly imagine. What is Peace? How does it feel? Do we have it now in our homes? towns? country? world? Would it be nice to have? Do we want more of it? 

If peace is felt when we get along with others, what methods do we use to meet new classmates and develop friendships? Is looking to highlight similarities in clothing, taste in food or music, etc.. a strategy which some of us already use, and if so, how widely or narrowly do we identify similarities? What consequences are there for defining our community with wide versus narrow filters of similarities? 

As a preview to the value of the program, ask how students pick their friends. Is it by interest in the activity? by the color of their hair? color of their skin? language? religion. Make notes on the type of responses and the general consensus of your class. This allows a way to gather base line responses against which to compare responses after the assembly. Avoid stressing desired responses at this time, which might only sensitize the class to these issues. The program is designed to stretch perceptions in an emotionally soft format. 

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