nAfter hearing the story of Ruby Bridges our children shared their thoughts, their concerns, their feelings…and their HOPE for a better tomorrow. Our students are the same age as Ruby when she made her brave and historical journey into Frantz Elementary School so many years ago. nOne of my little boys asked, “Can children change the world?”  “No,” said Matthew, “We can only change ourselves.” nIt was a perfect teachable moment when I told them, “Oh, but if we change ourselves we DO change the world!” “If we embrace the world with love and kindness and treat people fairly, that is how the world will treat us. nIf, we fill the world with love…we will change the world in a great way!.” nIt was a great way to lead into the story and Ruby Bridges nat a young tender age, proved just that! nWhat courage, strength and self-control she had…what a model for humanity!

nStudent’s viewed the artwork of Edward Hicks.  Hicks was an American painter in the early 1800’s.  His work centered on his spiritual beliefs.  Hicks painted several paintings in his series of “Peaceable Kingdom” paintings with one particular version being the painting he was most known for. The painting depicted a scene were animals of various types are gathered together.  Fierce, carnivorous animals, side by side, with docile herbivores and children. Hicks used animal symbolism to highlight human traits that must be overcome to find true peace.  nThe animals did not have to consider each other enemies.  nTraits like ego, greed, rage and violence are the true enemies of peace.  nIn the background of the painting, as a ray of hope for humans, nWilliam Penn is shown sealing a peace treaty with the Indians. nThe student’s discussed the meaning behind the paintings and decided to use large paper mache animals to form our own Peaceable Kingdom. n Students created drawings showing which animals should be included nand added a twist that each animal would be wearing the skin of another animal nin the picture to symbolize unity. nThe students then used paper mache to bring their drawings to life.

nMy eighth grade students study diversity and tolerance in many of their lessons.  I wanted to find a way that they could explore ways to build community with the idea that it is okay to be different.  We built a chain made of many different colors and sizes to show that not everyone is the same, and it takes all of us linked together to make our world a better place for all.  The students have joined with Jackson Elementary, our feeder school, to spread the message of tolerance.  Each school built a chain and then linked those chains together to reinforce the lessons they have learned.   Afterward, the students worked with the Norman Fire Department, the Mayor’s office, and Norman Public Schools Administration to spread the message that we need to link together to continue our struggle for the hope of equality and justice.  We now have a link with our sister school in France.

nEach student in our school made a pinwheel on which they wrote a public statement about their feelings about peace.  This statement included ideas about unity, war, tolerance, and cooperation.  It is not intended as a political statement, just to let people know what they are thinking.  nThe pinwheels were displayed in front of our school on International Day of Peace.  nThe pinwheel is a symbol of childhood, a simpler time, and allows us to express ourselves with an artistic creation. nThe globe symbolizes our world and we have added pinwheels of all colors nto show that we wish peace for the world. The ribbons flowing from the globe nhave our statements about peace and symbolize an outpouring of nour wishes for harmony in our world.

nIn our study of Desmond Tutu, we found the most interesting part was his job of getting all people in Africa to get along after the fall of Apartheid.  He created the term the Rainbow Nation to describe South Africa after Apartheid.  It was meant to acknowledge “multi-culturalism” and the coming-together of people of many different races, in a country once identified with the strict division of white and black. nTutu talked about the  “Rainbow People of God” in a TV series. The  metaphor comes from both Jewish Testament story of Noah's Flood, and its rainbow of peace while  in  South African indigenous cultures; the rainbow is associated with hope and a bright future.  Looking purely at the colors of the rainbow creates another metaphor, since a rainbow  does not have white or black (two race associative colors).  Each color is not meant to represent a particular race, but to represent diversity and overall cohesion.

nOur students have been learning about diversity through their production of radially balanced designs.  Working together as a "team" each class of students produced a radially balanced design using geometric and organic lines and shapes.  They then chose an art medium and technique to use on their composition that would fit the theme "all colors unite". nThese students realize that each one of us has our own unique talents and abilities.  We all have something to contribute to make our society great and when we work together all our "Colors Unite" and the results are breathtaking! nAmerica is a rich blend of diverse cultures and traditions.  We should take pride in our differences and use them as an advantage.  Like this "Color Cube" each section is beautiful on it's own, however, each individual piece also works together with the others to make an even more brilliant presentation.

n My students began discussing what is important to them. It is a great year to do that with the election going on. During our discussiongreat leaders such as Lincoln, Jefferson, Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Churchill to name a few were talked about. After a lengthydiscussion about why beliefs are important and what they mean to uspersonally, we talked about how just one person can truly make a difference. The theme All Colors Unite opened the discussion about why theworld seemed to revolve around it. Color being a metaphor for race, religion, beliefs, values. The students wanted to show through theirsculpture that no matter what color you are, it shouldn't matter and thattogether we can lift the world up. No problem is too great to solve if united you find common ground and/or dialog to use. They chose to painttheir statues various colors to represent all people. They aremulticolored because in truth so are we all. The intertwined ribbons are those truths and beliefs that we all share and make all things possible.The ribbons are twined together representing the thought that united together in common purpose all things are possible.

nOur student body heard a powerful speech about how history relates to issues of today.  Then we celebrated the diversity of cultures around us. nOur students have learned that, despite what the world tells us, no single culture is better than another.  Our eighth grade students have learned about the Holocaust in Geography and History classes throughout the course of the last two years and have gained an understanding of prejudice and how it still haunts us today.  We strive to teach our students that outside appearances aren’t important.  After all, “We’re All the Same on the Inside.”