Parents and Teachers
Teaching Tools & Techniques
Seasonal School and Classroom Resources
Seasonal School Inspiration and Resource Guide: “One Garden,” Part 1
This guide is a tool to assist teachers of children’s classes and junior youth animators in using Brilliant Star’s “One Garden” issue in the classroom. While Brilliant Star is developed for kids aged 7-12, many younger and older kids enjoy learning from it. Activities can be adapted and expanded to engage ages 4-14. You’re invited to explore this guide and to share your own ideas in our Facebook group, Brilliant Star Idea Exchange.
Key themes in this issue:
- Sharing Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of the oneness of humanity and overcoming prejudices of all kinds
- Importance of cooperation and mutual assistance for advancing society
- Appreciating the rich diversity of our world cultures
- Practical tools for overcoming differences and using consultation to resolve conflicts
- Seeing everyone as a potential friend and learning about the power of unity together
- Thinking critically about how diverse races appear in the media
- Sustaining an eager, constructive, and optimistic outlook
- Virtues of courage, friendliness, patience, trustworthiness, unity, compassion
You can search, download, or print the full issue here.
We recommend Google Chrome for viewing and downloading PDFs.
For each page, you’ll find discussion questions and activities to enhance learning.
“One Garden” Pages, Part 1
2 - One Sweet Family
3 - World Citizen
4-5 - Bahá’u’lláh’s Life: A Heartfelt Transformation
6 - Sapphires, Rubies, Diamonds, and Pearls
7 - Gifts of Diversity
8-9 - Nur’s Nook—Be Inclusive: A Feeder for Diverse Birds
10 - Amity in Action
You Can Find Part 2 Here (pages 11-20)
You Can Find Part 3 Here (pages 21-29)
Age Groups:
Pre-K/Kindergarten (4-5)
Early Elementary (6-7)
Late Elementary (8-10)
Junior Youth (11-14)
PAGE 2: ONE SWEET FAMILY
Explore the sweetness of diversity.
> PURPOSE
This page helps kids explore the sweetness diversity brings to our human family. It introduces readers to treats from around the world, and encourages them to find qualities that help us welcome friends of all backgrounds.
Find dessert descriptions here:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Desserts.pdf
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- Have you tried a treat from another country? What was it? What did you think of it?
- Food is a fun way to share a bit about ourselves with friends. How do you feel when you tell friends about your favorite things? How do you feel when a friend shares their favorites with you?
- If you could share one treat from your culture with a person from another country, what would it be? Why?
- What are some of your favorite treats to share with friends?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- What can we learn by sharing foods between cultures?
- Why is it important to learn about diverse cultures?
- The treats on this page come from different countries around the world. Have you tried any of the treats or learned about any of the countries they’re from?
- What are some of the diverse cultures in your community or city? What have you learned from them?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
> Treat Time
Enjoy some treats from around the world in your class. As kids sample each treat, share some information about the country it comes from, a greeting in the language spoken there, etc.
> Rainbow Trail Mix
Make a rainbow trail mix. Give each kid an ingredient to add to the mix. Stir ingredients, and enjoy the mix together. While you eat, talk about the diverse ingredients that make the snack beautiful and tasty.
https://www.shakentogetherlife.com/easy-rainbow-snack-mix/
> Dessert Sculpting
Invite kids to create an image of their own dessert. Give them art supplies, including paper, glue, modeling clay, pipe cleaners, pom-pom balls, stickers, etc. If they created a treat that represents the oneness of humanity, what would it be like? What ingredients and flavors would it have? What color would it be? What would they name it? Invite kids to share their finished creations with the class.
> Gumdrop Challenge
Do a gumdrop building challenge. Give students toothpicks and colorful gumdrops. How many diverse structures can your class create? When you’re done, have each kid share their favorite creation with the group.
https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/building-gumdrop-structures-engineering/
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
> Treat Time
Enjoy some treats from around the world in your class. Give kids small samples of treats from different countries without labeling them. Then provide a list of treat names and countries. As kids try each sample, share information about the country it comes from. Then have kids use the list to guess where the treat is from and what it’s called.
> Treat Bags to Share
Make treat bags to share with friends, another group, or a younger class. Try to include as many candies from different countries as you can. On a gift tab, write a quote about the sweetness of diversity or the oneness of humanity, such as, “The various races of humankind lend a composite harmony and beauty of color to the whole.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Examples:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1e/e7/90/1ee7902e92f392657fe37ebb57b5e81a.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3a/15/62/3a15622962f4a1bc7422b0d6ab114a72.jpg
> How to Draw
Watch the “How To Draw A Party Cake” video by C. Aaron Kreader and invite each kid to draw their own cake. Then ask each kid to add decorations that represent their own culture or a culture they admire.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-a-party-cake
> Dessert Sculpting
Create your own dessert! Give students colorful clay. They can recreate their favorite desserts from different countries and cultures, or they can invent a model of a new treat of their own that represents the oneness of humanity. When they’re finished, everyone shares their clay creations with the class and creates a dessert display of their treats.
PAGE 3: WORLD CITIZEN
Create your peaceful passport.
> PURPOSE
This page encourages readers to imagine themselves as world citizens—part of a global society that lives in peace, where everyone is treated fairly. They’re invited to write about their ideas for a peaceful world with no racism or prejudice.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- Do you have any friends from different countries or cultures? What’s fun about that?
- What are the most useful words to use when you want to make new friends?
- What culture would you like to learn more about? Why?
- What things, like food and shelter, do you think all people need?
- What are some ways to learn about other countries when we can’t travel?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- What is citizenship?
- What is a passport? Why do we need it?
- If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would you go?
- What things, like food and shelter, do you think all people need?
- How would things be different if everyone spoke a common language?
- In the future, when we have world unity, do you think we will still have passports?
- What are some ways to learn about other cultures when we’re not able to travel?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Paper Passport
Make a physical world citizen passport using the Nur’s Nook Mini Zine craft. Invite kids to write their name, age, birthplace, languages, and/or other details. Kids can draw pictures or write answers to the questions on the page.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/nurs-nook-make-your-own-mini-zine
Print out passport stamps or images to glue into the passports, or use stickers. Examples:
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/set-city-stamps-flat-style_2032565.htm
> Greetings Around the World
Complete the greetings in 15 languages. Then cut out the flags and glue them into the world citizen passport, or make a poster with them.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Global_Greetings_JFMA15.pdf
> Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course, but ask students to navigate it with rolling suitcases, as if they’re traveling.
> International Snacks
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
Make and serve an international snack, such as hummus or guacamole:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/pdf-play/Riley_Unity_JA06p12.pdf
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2010/Riley_SpiceLife_MJ10p21.pdf
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
> Paper Passport
Make a physical world citizen passport using the Nur’s Nook Mini Zine craft. Invite kids to write their name, age, birthplace, languages, and/or other details. Kids can draw pictures or write answers to the questions on the page.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/nurs-nook-make-your-own-mini-zine
> Create Passport Stamps
Make passport stamps that represent a peaceful world. Be sure to reverse the images. They can be glued right-side down onto bottle caps for handles. Ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqPZr6KTJ-M&ab_channel=FeltLikeHome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW4cA2tz4tE
> World Citizen Quiz
Using the “Are You a World Citizen” quiz:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Are_You_a_World_Citizen_MJJA15.pdf
- Put the 14 questions on separate cards, with the question number, but without the often/sometimes/rarely part.
- Give each student 14 small paper cutout airplanes (numbered 1-14) to decorate (or just use sticky notes).
- Put a large piece of paper on the wall, with three columns: Often, Sometimes, Rarely.
- Have students take turns reading the questions. They answer by sticking the correct # airplane in the preferred column. For example, for question #1, everyone puts up their #1 airplane/sticky note in one of the three columns.
- When done, talk about which numbers are most often found in the rarely column. Reread those questions and brainstorm about how to improve on that skill.
> Welcoming Words
Give students copies of this word search:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/pdf-play/word_welcoming_MA08p5.pdf
- Ask students to find all the words in the grid.
- Then on a world map, have them add a small dot sticker or other marker on each country where they’ve learned to say “welcome.”
- List the languages and countries on a large sheet of paper. Ask students to add other languages they might know or want to look up.
- Discuss Esperanto, which can be spoken in any country. Tell students about Lidia Zamenhof, a Bahá’í whose father invented Esperanto
https://bahaichronicles.org/lidia-zamenhoff/
> Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course, but ask the students to navigate it with a rolling suitcase as if they’re traveling. To make a more challenging relay race, have players unpack and repack clothing between each player.
> Sing “Places in the World,” by Red Grammer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2XzOLKaSnE&ab_channel=RedGrammer-Topic
> International Snack
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
Make and serve an international snack, such as hummus or guacamole:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/pdf-play/Riley_Unity_JA06p12.pdf
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2010/Riley_SpiceLife_MJ10p21.pdf
PAGES 4-5: BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S LIFE:
A HEARTFELT TRANSFORMATION
Overcoming prejudice to live a life of service
> PURPOSE
This piece shares the story of an early Bahá’í in ‘Akká named Shaykh Mahmúd who overcame his intense prejudices against Bahá’u’lláh to become a devoted follower. This story invites readers to explore themes of prejudice, unity, and overcoming barriers.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- Why did Shaykh Mahmúd hate Bahá’u’lláh before he even met Him?
- What helped Shaykh Mahmúd’s heart change?
- What happened to Shaykh Mahmúd’s prejudices when he met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?
- When Shaykh Mahmúd’s heart changed, how did he show his love?
- Have you ever had someone judge you before they knew you? How did it feel?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- Are there times when you realized you had a prejudice of some kind? How did you overcome it?
- What helped Shaykh Mahmúd overcome his own prejudices?
- Shaykh Mahmúd experienced a transformation after meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. What examples of transformation have you seen or experienced?
- How do you handle it when someone treats you differently because of your beliefs or culture?
- Can you identify some prejudices that are harmful to your community? What will help your community overcome them?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Adapt Activities for Younger Ages
To adapt “Guiding Light” activity (page 5), cut tissue paper scraps ahead of time. Write different virtues on slips of paper for kids to choose from. Then they can paint their jars and add tissue scraps and a virtue.
To adapt “Know Your Neighbor” activity (page 5) for kids who are still learning to read and write, have kids sit in a circle. Give each one a turn to share something about themselves that people may not know about them.
To adapt “Inner Mural” activity (page 5), cut out hand shapes before class. Have kids decorate them with markers, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, etc. When finished, place a piece of tape on the back of each so students can add their hands to a class mural.
> Lantern Walk
After making simple paper lanterns, have kids pretend to be Shaykh Mahmúd guiding Bahá’ís into ‘Akká (or use flashlights). Let them take turns guiding classmates past obstacles from one end of the classroom to another.
https://www.marinmommies.com/fun-and-easy-paper-crafts-chinese-new-year-2020
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
> Act it Out
Have the class put on a play based on the story of Shaykh Mahmúd’s transformation. Find creative ways to tell the story without anyone portraying Bahá’u’lláh or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, out of respect. Share the play with younger classes, and talk to them about the theme of overcoming prejudices.
> Games About Prejudice and Fairness
In addition to the games provided on page 5, try more games to explore themes of prejudice, privilege, and unity:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/Privilege_An_Unfair_Game_MA17_p25.pdf
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2019/Fair_Play_v50n6_RS.pdf
> Lantern Craft
Check out these options for an advanced lantern craft from Nur’s Nook. Use lanterns to host “Oneness of Humanity” devotions for friends or another class.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/nurs-nook-lighting-your-waycreate-your-own-lantern
> Shadow Stories
Divide into small groups. Make sure each group has a camera phone the team can use. Give each group a section of the story to illustrate with photos of shadows. Teams can be creative to use their bodies, found objects, or nature shadows to help tell their section of the story. When each team is finished, invite groups to share their photos to retell the story.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d6/f6/d2/d6f6d26013c8920a897d6dc7e4313eaf.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/e3/0d/44e30de2e3c7e615e6ec42495a2806eb.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d3/2e/49/d32e49ca8dc1fbad7b58843c60127662.jpg
PAGE 6: SAPPHIRES, RUBIES, DIAMONDS, AND PEARLS
‘Abdu’l-Bahá provided the example of love and unity.
> PURPOSE
This page explains some details about racial segregation, which was a fact of life in 1912 when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the United States. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that the teachings of the Faith proclaim the oneness of humanity, and he insisted that Bahá’ís welcome people of all races.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wished for people of all colors and backgrounds to be friends. Is that how it is at your school?
- Do you ever notice kids from some colors or backgrounds being treated differently? Is that right?
- How can you make new friends with kids who look different from you?
- What is a sapphire? A ruby? A diamond? A pearl? Are they always the exact same colors?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- What is a sapphire? A ruby? A diamond? A pearl? Are they always the exact same colors?
- Why does ‘Abdu’l-Bahá compare people to these gems?
- Do you ever notice kids of different colors and cultures being treated differently? Is that right?
- What are some things you might do to help kids who are treated unfairly, while staying safe yourself?
- What are some ways you could make friends with kids from backgrounds other than your own?
- How might you act toward someone if you thought of all people as precious treasures?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Maya’s Mysteries: Colors of Humanity
A fun and colorful activity to do outdoors. https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2013/Maya_Rainbow_Bubbles_MJ13_p6.pdf
> Maya’s Mysteries: Does Race Exist?
Have a group discussion about the concepts and questions in this quiz. Rephrase the questions using terms that are easy for younger kids to understand. https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/MA17p20_Maya_Race_Quiz.pdf
> Signs of Oneness
Read the quote from Bahá’u’lláh in the “Signs of Oneness” activity. Talk about the challenging words and their definitions. Challenge kids to work in groups to memorize the quote. They could make up a song or use another method to help. https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2019/Signs_of_Oneness_v50n6.pdf
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
> Riley’s Rainforest: Our Unfair Brains
Read the article and discuss the tips in Explore & Soar. Share some books and media messages about people from diverse backgrounds.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/Riley_Biases_MA17_p12.pdf
> Building the Future Quiz
Put the quiz questions on index cards and give a set to several small groups of students. Ask them to share suggestions about how they could implement these behaviors in real life. https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2011/Quiz_Building_the_Future_MJ11p5.pdf
> Maya’s Mysteries: Courage to Connect experiment
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2019/Maya_Bridge_v50n6_RS.pdf
> Privilege, an Unfair Game: Play and discuss
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/Privilege_An_Unfair_Game_MA17_p25.pdf
> What Do You Say?
Invite kids to work together to come up with effective ways to respond to the situations in these activities. Then ask them to act out the situations and include their own responses.
What Do You Say about injustice or racism?https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/What_Do_You_Say_MA17_p19.pdf
What Do You Say to racist ideas?
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2019/What_Do_You_Say_v50n6_RS.pdf
PAGE 7: GIFTS OF DIVERSITY
Celebrate our delightful differences!
> PURPOSE
Through a fun gift-matching activity, this page explores the similarities and differences between all people. It encourages readers to celebrate the diversity of their friends and communities and to see diversity as a gift.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- In what ways are you and your friends alike?
- In what ways are you and your friends different from each other?
- What’s something you’ve learned from a friend who is different from you?
- Has a friend ever introduced you to a new game, a new type of food, or a holiday you’d never celebrated before? What was that like?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- What happens to our communities when we don’t appreciate each other’s differences?
- How can naming and celebrating our similarities and differences help our communities?
- What are some of your friends’ unique talents, interests, or perspectives that you admire (but are different from your own)?
- What are some cultures you admire that you’d like to learn more about?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Make your own eco-friendly wrapping paper.
Give each kid a square of white cotton. Use fabric markers to decorate cloth with vibrant patterns. Instead of one-use wrapping paper, wrap gifts in this reusable cloth.
> Go on a gift hunt.
Wrap small items and treats in pairs of matching homemade or earth-friendly gift wrap. Hide gifts throughout the room. When kids find a present, they bring it to the center of the room. When all gifts are found, put the matching pairs together. Guess what’s inside before opening them as a class. Explore how you can’t know what’s inside just based on the outer wrapping.
> Do a gift exchange in class.
Give each kid a clean rock to paint and decorate. When dry, help them write a virtue on each rock. Then wrap them in a colorful piece of cloth. Place them in a pile in the center. Going one at a time, each kid stands up and the teacher and class name a quality they admire in them. Then they choose one of the gifts to take home.
> Maya’s Mysteries: Gift of Nature
Explore and celebrate the diversity of nature with a “Gift of Nature” walk. Work as a team to do as many of these nature appreciation activities as you can.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/mayas-mysteries-the-gift-of-nature
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
> Make your own eco-friendly wrapping paper.
Use soy milk to paint patterns on white cotton cloth. Allow to dry overnight. The next day, dampen cloth and soak in a pot of strong tea for several hours. Rinse and dry. Instead of one-use wrapping paper, wrap gifts in this reusable cloth.
https://diggelydoggely.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/painting-with-soya-milk-and-natural-dyes/
> Organize a matching gift hunt for a younger class.
Wrap small items and treats in pairs of matching homemade or earth-friendly gift wrap. Hide gifts throughout the room. When kids find a present, they bring it to the center of the room. When all gifts are found, find matching pairs. Guess what’s inside before opening them as a class. Explore how you can’t know what’s inside just based on the outer wrapping.
> Make origami gift boxes.
Use as many different types of colorful paper as you can. Inside each, put a small treat and a quote that helps you remember to celebrate diversity, such as, “Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful color.” Give to a friend.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-fold-origami-gift-box-2540843
> How to Draw
Check out this “How to Draw a Gift” video to practice drawing gifts. On each gift you draw, add qualities you admire in others.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/how-to-draw-a-gift
PAGES 8-9: NUR’S NOOK—BE INCLUSIVE:
A FEEDER FOR DIVERSE BIRDS
Build a cool place for diverse birds to snack.
> PURPOSE
This page emphasizes how having diverse friends is fun and reduces stereotyping. Readers make a bird feeder to attract diverse birds.
Quote: “Birds of various species and colors wing their flight and feed together without a trace of enmity... In the world of humanity it is wise and seemly that all the individual members should manifest unity...”
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- Do most of your friends look like you or different from you? How are you alike or different?
- How do your friends show kindness to you?
- What are some things you do to show your friends you care about them?
- What could you do to make more friends who are different from you?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- Do you and your friends all look similar in race or culture?
- What are some important qualities you look for in a friend?
- What’s fun about having friends from diverse cultures and backgrounds?
- What words describe the kind of friend you try to be to others?
- What could you do to make more friends who don’t look, think, or act like you?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Recycled Milk Carton Bird Feeder
This activity requires help from an adult, but may be easier for this age group than the “Bird Feeder for Diverse Birds” activity in the “One Garden” issue.
NOTE: Acrylic paint stains cloth.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/characters/pdf-character/MA13_Nur_BridFeeder_Com.pdf
> Make a Nest of Diverse (OR Colorful) Birds
Paint a paper plate brown for nest. Let it dry. Add a handful of shredded brown or green paper or craft moss to plate. To make birds, use thick glue to add two googly eyes or paper-cutout eyes to center of three or four different colored pom-pom balls. Glue craft feathers to sides of each bird for wings and a paper or felt triangle below eyes for beaks. Place birds inside nest. Examples:
https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/baby-birds-nest.html
https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/spring/pom-pom-bird-craft.asp
> Talk about Stereotypes
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
Assemble small bowls of different-colored candy, cereal, or cubed fruit and veggies. Set them out and ask students: Which is the smartest? Which is the kindest? Which is the most truthful? [Of course, these questions make no sense, and that’s the point.] They can then try the food and say what things they like about each color or flavor. If you use color-coated candy, you can cut some in half to show that they’re all the same inside.
> Practice Expanding the Circle
Have all but one student stand together in a tight circle. Have that one student approach slightly, like they want to join, but are not sure. Then the circled-up kids practice making an opening and welcoming the new student. Suggest welcoming words, such as “Hi. I’m glad you’re here.” Or “Hi. Thank you for joining us.”
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
> Displaying Bird Feeders in Your Classroom
On craft paper, draw or paint a large tree shape. Cut it out if you wish. Tape the string of each student’s finished bird feeder to a tree branch. Enjoy display until it’s time for kids to take their bird feeders home. Examples:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/138133913562121349/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28921622597620893/
> Build or Draw Diverse Friends
Share this activity with students and talk about the tips: https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2014/LEGO_New_Friendships_SOND14p5.pdf
Or write the tips on cards and have students discuss them in small groups. Then, provide LEGO minifig parts or drawing materials. Ask each student to make their own inclusive circle of friends, robots, birds, or anything. They can label each friend with a virtue that helps strengthen relationships.
> A-Z of Friendship
Talk about how one way to stop stereotyping is to get to know people. Share these activities with students and ask them to get into pairs and take turns asking each other the questions. https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2019/Fun_Friendship_v50n6.pdf
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Cool_Conversations_JFMA15.pdf
> Practice Expanding the Circle
Have all but one student stand together in a tight circle. Have that one student approach slightly, like they want to join, but are not sure. Then the circled-up kids practice making an opening and welcoming the new student. Have students brainstorm welcoming words, like “Hi, what’s your name?” Or “Hi, I’m glad you’re here.” The welcomed student chooses another kid to stand outside the circle and be welcomed in. Continue until all students have played both roles.
> Music: Stand with Me
https://dogonfleas.bandcamp.com/track/stand-with-me
PAGE 10: AMITY IN ACTION
Build unity with cross-racial friendships.
> PURPOSE
The purpose of this page is to connect kids’ hearts with the word of God and to explain some of the vocabulary terms. The page conveys the concept that we need to work to make sure that our thoughts and actions are free from racial prejudice.
Quote (vocabulary words underlined):
It is one thing to hold a belief in humanity’s oneness and another to build a world that manifests this principle in all its dimensions... All Bahá’ís are called to persistently act, little by little, to deliberately cultivate freedom from racial prejudice within their daily lives, their families, their community-building activities, their involvement with society, and all the social spaces in which they participate, so that they increasingly evince the Bahá’í teachings, especially the oneness of humanity. If the friends become founts of love and create environments wherein the spirit and practice of race unity are prevalent, every trace of race prejudice will ultimately be removed.
—The Universal House of Justice, January 28, 2022
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- Have you seen examples of race amity in your community? (Invite students to share details.)
- Carefully read and explain the last sentence of the quote:
“If the friends become founts of love and create environments wherein the spirit and practice of race unity are prevalent, every trace of race prejudice will ultimately be removed.”
Ask students: What can you do to be a “fount of love” to others? - How can we create spaces where everyone can feel the spirit and practice of race unity?
- What do you think the world will be like when race prejudice is all gone?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
- Have you seen examples of race amity in your community? (Invite students to share details.)
- How do others in the community respond to those cross-racial friendships?
- Ask students to read the quote and discuss their thoughts and feelings about it.
- What does the Universal House of Justice mean by the first sentence? (“It is one thing to hold a belief in humanity’s oneness and another to build a world that manifests this principle in all its dimensions”)
- What would a world that manifests oneness in all its dimensions look like? How would it be different from the world today?
- How can we “deliberately cultivate freedom from racial prejudice”?
- Why do you think the House of Justice specified so many situations where we can show freedom from prejudice?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Give students paper and colored pencils, crayons, or markers, and invite them to draw “founts of love” in a world with no racial prejudice.
> Ask kids to help you make up a “founts of love” dance. Each child can contribute at least one step or body movement.
> Cooperative Storytelling
Before the class, prepare one or two documents with four photos on each, showing people from different racial backgrounds in action. Ask students to look at the photos and then cooperate to make up a story that involves people of different races working together to help their community. (This can be a whole-class activity or you can divide students into groups.)
> “Unicorn Food” Rainbow Snack Mix
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
Invite kids to help make this treat. Combine 2 cups regular fish-shaped crackers, 2 cups colored fish-shaped crackers, 2 cups mini marshmallows, 1 cup vanilla yogurt-covered raisins, and 1 cup candy-coated chocolates. Mix gently and serve.
https://onemamasdailydrama.com/unicorn-food-rainbow-snack-mix/
Late Elementary | Junior Youth
> Ask students (individually or in pairs) to draw a picture, make a sign or poster, or write a poem celebrating or encouraging race amity.
> Divide students into groups of four or five and give them about 20 minutes to create a dance to express race amity. Ask each group to perform their dance.
> Cooperative Storytelling
Before the class, prepare several documents with four pictures on each, showing people from different racial backgrounds in action. During the class, divide students into groups of four and give each group a different set of photos. Groups have 10 minutes to use the photos to create a story that involves people of different races working together to solve a problem or help their community. Ask each group to share their images and tell their story.
> Rainbow Fruit Skewers
NOTE: Check with parents or guardians for allergies/dietary restrictions.
Invite kids to wash and dry blueberries, grapes, and raspberries or strawberries. Help them carefully cut bite-sized pieces of kiwi, cantaloupe or orange segments, pineapple, and honeydew melon. They assemble all the pieces on wooden skewers in a rainbow pattern and share for a snack.
Updated on 6.28.22