Parents and Teachers
Teaching Tools & Ruhi Classes
Teachers’ Guides & Resources
Teachers’ Guide: Race Unity, Part 1
This guide is a tool to assist teachers of children’s classes and junior youth animators in sharing Brilliant Star’s “Spirit of Community” 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 groups ranging from ages 4-14. You’re invited to explore this guide and to share your own ideas in our Facebook group, Brilliant Star Idea Exchange.
In developing the issue, these were our goals, and the discussion questions we offer help to encourage the dialogue along these lines:
- Acknowledging the nobility of the soul;
- Focusing on our commonality as human beings, instead of our differences;
- Understanding how the principle of oneness will help build understanding among racial groups;
- Exploring the Bahá’í writings with families in a way that will advance our community-building efforts and help people feel connected to the writings;
- Getting out of our comfort zone and engaging with others. Being willing to make mistakes in efforts to build unity leads to understanding.
- Emphasize a sense of hope that improving the world is possible and forthcoming. Kids and families can take practical steps to build unity.
You can search, download, or print the full issue here:
We recommend Google Chrome for viewing and downloading PDFs.
For each page in the issue that ties into a race unity theme, you’ll find discussion questions, activities to enhance learning, and related content that expands on the topic.
2 - Zeke & Rhombus: We're All Noble
9 - Quiz: Are You a Community Builder?
10 - Dance with Diversity
17 - Shoghi Effendi's Guidance
18-19 - Nur's Nook: Make a Family & Friends Tree
You Can Find Part 2 Here (pages 20-29)
PAGE 2: ZEKE & RHOMBUS: WE’RE ALL NOBLE
> PURPOSE
This page shows that prejudice can be overcome, with the example of the fictional planet Zilizag. Zeke points out that Zilizag’s citizens learned to see each other as noble souls and gives tips for talking about racism.
Zeke and Rhombus are regular characters in Brilliant Star. They zoom through space for their Peaceful Planets Project. They’ve visited 99 galaxies, discovering how diverse cultures and civilizations can get along. Zeke and Rhombus visit Earth often, checking out our progress towards unity in diversity and world peace.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten
- How are humans (or people) and animals alike? How are they different?
- What does it mean to be noble?
- What does it mean if your spirit is noble?
- Is it okay for some people to be treated differently because of how they look or the color of their skin?
- What are some ways we can be friends with everyone?
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- What does it mean to have a noble soul?
- Imagine a world with race unity and no prejudice. What would it look and feel like? How would your life be different?
- How can we learn to listen to others, even if what we’re hearing is difficult?
- Learning about other cultures is fun, but we can’t expect friends to teach us everything about their heritage. How can you learn on your own? How can you share your culture with others?
Junior Youth/Youth
- Read one of these pieces (and complete the quiz) and discuss: What is the part of you that really makes you human?
Riley’s Rainforest: See the Real You - Article about the soul
Quiz: Your Soul’s Journey
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/Your_Souls_Journey_SO16_p2.pdf
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/Kindergarten
> Review photos or a video illustrating a great diversity of humans, including people of various races and cultures, who live in diverse places, who have disabilities, wear unusual clothes or gear, etc. Sing a happy song, such as “Hooray for the World” by Red Grammer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJCaCcVO2ZI
> Draw a picture of Zeke and Rhombus on Planet Zilizag. Show them being kind to other beings on their planet. Then share your drawings with the group. You can find out more about Zeke and Rhombus here:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/zeke-and-rhombus
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Read the introduction to this “What Do You Say?” activity. Divide into three teams and ask each group to prepare a skit based on one of the scenarios. After each skit is presented, ask the class to discuss what they would do and how they might feel in that situation.
What Do You Say? (About injustice or racism)
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/What_Do_You_Say_MA17_p19.pdf
> Play the “Going to Zilizag” memory game. One person starts, saying, “I’m going to Zilizag, and I’m taking art.” The next person repeats it, and adds something that starts with the next letter in the alphabet: “I’m going to Zilizag, and I’m taking art and binoculars.” Keep going through the entire alphabet. For an extra challenge, add how the item you’re taking will help you make friends with the beings on Zilizag.
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Complete the “Unity in Diversity” activity (below), either together or individually. Then invite students to walk around the room and mingle for a few minutes, looking for clues that hint at common interests. Come back together as a group and ask kids to share some clues they spotted. Talk about how some interests aren’t obvious just by looking at others.
Unity in Diversity - Find kids with common interests
> Play the “Popping Popcorn” game from the “Celebrate Unity” page below. After everyone shares the facts, talk about new common interests that you’ve discovered.
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Celebrate Unity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ15_Celebrate_Unity.pdf
Junior Youth/Youth
> To help unpack the concept of oneness, assemble the following pages in a binder or folder that students can add to during the course of the class. Invite students to decorate the front of their folder and give it a title (examples are “One Human Family” or “One People”). The folder will contain their Brilliant Star pages, art, and other notes or activities about how humanity is one. Start with the “Positive Thoughts for Peace” prayer, to connect to concept to the Bahá’í writings, then include facts, then tips. Add blank pages where students can to write or draw about their ideas.
Positive Thoughts for Peace - Prayer with vocabulary
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Positive_Thoughts_for_Peace_MJJA15.pdf
Maya’s Mysteries: Does Race Exist? - Quiz about race facts
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/MA17p20_Maya_Race_Quiz.pdf
Riley’s Rainforest - Our Unfair Brains - Tips to overcome bias
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/Riley_Biases_MA17_p12.pdf
Respectful Remedies - Tips for stopping microaggressions
> RELATED CONTENT
Building the Future - Quiz about building a prejudice-free future
Music Video: Unite, by Ali Youssefi, text from the Bahá’í writings
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/unite
Places in the World, by Red and Kathy Grammer
Audio link with lyrics
https://redgrammer.com/index.php/places-in-the-world-song.html
PAGE 3: WARMING THE HEARTS
> PURPOSE
This piece emphasizes the beauty and benefits of diversity, as symbolized by the hearts’ varying colors. It also conveys the concept and that we can overcome differences and build friendships through acts of loving-kindness.
Quote: “They whose hearts are warmed by the energizing influence of God’s creative love cherish His creatures for His sake . . .” —Shoghi Effendi
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten
- What are some ways you’re like your friends or family?
- What are some ways you’re different from your friends or family?
- What are ways we can show kindness to everyone, even if we like different things?
- What can we do if we don’t agree with someone (such as what game to play)?
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- What’s something cool you learned from someone of a different culture, religion, or background than you?
- Are there places with a lot of diversity where you live? How do you feel when you are in those places?
- What are some ways we can overcome disagreements and differences?
- What are ways that we can burn bright with loving kindness toward those who are different from us?
- What would our world be like if we were all the same?
- What other words can you think of that help us build friendship and unity?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/Kindergarten
> Display a brown egg and a white egg and ask kids if they think they are different on the inside. Crack them open to reveal that they’re the same inside. Discuss how even though people may look different on the outside, we’re all the same on the inside, too. You can also demonstrate this with green, yellow, and red apples and offer them to kids as a snack.
> Create hearts out of construction paper and give them googly eyes, arms, and legs. Talk about what virtues we have that make us noble (such as love, friendship, kindness, courage, patience). Help kids to write some of their virtues on the heart’s body or hands. Craft examples:
https://www.theresourcefulmama.com/valentines-day-heart-craft-for-kids
https://homedecorss.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Smart-Valentines-Day-Crafts-Ideas-For-Your-Kids-21.jpg
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Play Friendship Bingo. On bingo cards, pose questions that pertain to diversity of all kinds, such as “Who was born in another country?” “Who knows another language?” or “Who knows how to play a musical instrument?” etc. Students talk with each other (or with all school attendees) and find someone who fits each item. That person draws a heart with their name inside. The person who gets all the questions answered first wins.
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Festival of Friendship - “Friendship Bingo”
Instructions for Friendship Bingo
http://www2.peacefirst.org/digitalactivitycenter/files/friendship_bingo.pdf
You can create customized free bingo cards at this website:
https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator
> To make the “Warming the Hearts” activity hands-on, cut out paper hearts, cut them in half, and write the word fragments on them. Then ask students to work together to form the words. You can also add more words or ask kids to think of them. Some options: COOPERATE, EMPATHY, FORGIVE, HELPFUL, HONESTY, KINDNESS, LISTEN, PATIENCE, UNITY
> Hand out paper hearts and ask students to draw on them something that makes them happy. Then ask them to cut their paper heart into 6-10 puzzle pieces. Students exchange heart puzzles and take turns putting them together. When they finish, they share something they appreciate about each other.
> Read “Riley’s Rainforest: The Spice of Life” together. In small dishes, present spices and dried herbs that the students can smell and touch. Older students can guess the names of the spices. Ask kids if they know what spices or herbs are in their favorite foods and where the spices come from. Talk about how the spices are different and how they also work together. If possible, make the guacamole recipe together.
Riley’s Rainforest: The Spice of Life – Article and recipe
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2010/Riley_SpiceLife_MJ10p21.pdf
> Read the “Kindness Quest” activity as a group. Brainstorm about what goals to put on a Kindness Quest held during the seasonal school session. Write the ideas on a large poster board and post it in the classroom. During the session, invite students to put a check mark or write their name next to each action they do.
Kindness Quest
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/SO17p19_Kindness_Quest.pdf
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> An idea from Becky in our Idea Exchange: Cut out paper hearts, cut them in half, and write a word fragments on each half. Give half of a heart to each student, and ask them to find the student who holds the remaining portion of their word. When the two students find each other, they work together to create a skit about their word and what it means. After the skits are performed, to reinforce the activity, everyone completes the page in the magazine.
> Read the introduction to this “What Do You Say?” activity. Divide into three teams and ask each group to prepare a skit based on one of the scenarios. After each skit is presented, ask the class to discuss what they would do and how they might feel in that situation.
What Do You Say? (About conflicts and kindness)
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/SO17p27_WDYS_Kindness.pdf
> RELATED CONTENT
Delicious Diversity https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Delicious_Diversity_MJJA15.pdf
Zeke & Rhombus: Power Up with Diversity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/ND17p27_Zeke_Diversity_Tips.pdf
Maya’s Mysteries: Colors of Humanity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/characters/pdf-character/Maya_MJ13_Colors_bubbles_small.pdf
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Celebrate Unity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ15_Celebrate_Unity.pdf
Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: Empathy Song, by Brett Dennen and Lara Mendel
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2012/Music_Empathy_Song_MA12p20.pdf
PAGE 4: ALL FROM STARDUST
> PURPOSE
This piece addresses the oneness of humanity from a physical standpoint: we’re all made of star “dust.” This cultivates kids’ understanding that we were all created by God as one human family and should treat everyone with loving-kindness and respect.
Quote: “Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other.” —Bahá’u’lláh
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- What is unity?
- What is a community?
- What are things we can do for our friends to make them happy?
- What are things that your friends do for you that make you happy?
- Think of a time someone made you feel included and welcome. What did they do? How did it feel?
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- What are ways we can help our communities shine with unity?
- Besides stars, what are other examples in nature that show unity in diversity?
- How would showing loving-kindness to everyone you meet affect your community?
- What are some ways you’ve helped others feel included and welcome?
- If you hear someone make a racist joke, how do you react?
- What are some ways you can help others feel included and welcome?
- If someone was being bullied for their race, culture, or background, what would you do?
- Think of a time someone made you feel included and welcome. What did they do? How did it feel?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Ask kids to decorate a star to give as a gift to someone they love or appreciate. Encourage them to decorate their stars based on what that person would like. Stars can be provided as coloring sheets or cut-outs from construction paper or card stock. Kids with more developed motor skills can trace and/or cut out their own star.
Early Elementary | Late Elementary
> Ask students to design and name their own constellation that symbolizes the unity of mankind on a piece of black construction paper, with white crayon. Combine all the constellations on a poster board or wall to create a starry sky of unity.
> Invite kids to create 3D constellations with marshmallows and toothpicks. Examples:
http://mskirbyknockanean.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/3/7/39370545/520561_orig.jpg
> Go outside and ask students to make constellations with sidewalk chalk. Use rocks for stars, if they’re available. Make shapes to represent virtues such as Unity, Diversity, or Peace. Students can share their creations with the group and talk about what inspired them to create that shape.
https://www.parentmap.com/images/article/7097/Constellations-With-Rocks.jpg
Junior Youth/Youth
> Ask students to design and name their own constellation that symbolizes the unity of mankind on a piece of black construction paper with white crayon. Then ask them to add a Bahá’í quote about unity that resonates with them (provide books to research or quotes printed on paper). Combine all the constellations and quotes on a poster board or wall to create a starry sky of unity.
> RELATED CONTENT
Nur’s Nook: Create a String of Stars - Craft
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/nurs-nook-create-a-string-of-stars
Nur’s Nook: Tying Our Hearts Together - Craft
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/tying-our-hearts-together
Stars of One Heaven
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2014/Stars_One_Heaven_MJ14p2.pdf
Quiz: How Open-Minded are You?
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2014/Quiz_Open_Minded_MJ14p4.pdf
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Celebrate Space
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_TAB/SO15_Space_proofed.pdf
Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: Nothing More
PAGE 9: QUIZ: ARE YOU A COMMUNITY BUILDER?
> PURPOSE
To encourage kids to think about what “community” means to them and how they can take an active role in creating a greater sense of community—for themselves and for others.
Quote: “The part of youth is very great; you have the opportunity to really determine to exemplify in word and deed the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh . . .” —Bahá’í Writings
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- Who are some people in your community at home?
- What are some ways you help people in your community?
- How can we help other people in our community at the seasonal school?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- What does “community” mean to you?
- How did you feel after taking the quiz?
- Did your score match up with how you think about yourself as a member of your community?
- Which statements in the quiz did you most agree with? Which ones did you least agree with?
- After taking the quiz, what are some new ways you can build unity?
- Can you think of other ways to build unity that weren’t included in the quiz?
- Has anyone been to Hawaii or do you have any Hawaiian friends? What do you know about the aloha spirit? https://www.hawaii.edu/uhwo/clear/home/lawaloha.html
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/Kindergarten
> Read the book or watch the music video of Sweet Neighbors Come in All Colors by Lisa Blecker. Then have kids draw a picture of themselves doing something that helps build unity in their community.
Music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1M_XaqJD8U
> Go outside and drop a pebble in a pond, fountain, or container of water. Watch how the ripples go out. Experiment with different sizes of pebbles. Try changing the amount of time (by a few seconds) between pebbles dropped by two people.
Early Elementary
> Read the book or watch the music video of “Sweet Neighbors Come in All Colors” by Lisa Blecker. Then have kids draw a picture of themselves doing something that helps build unity in their community
Music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1M_XaqJD8U
> Talk about the aloha spirit and what that might entail. What’s a word that could describe the spirit we want to share at our Bahá’í school or in our classroom?
https://www.hawaii.edu/uhwo/clear/home/lawaloha.html
> Paint a stone with a virtue word and talk about how we can figuratively use it to create ripples of that virtue through our actions.
Late Elementary
> Have each person draw a picture of themselves (alone or with friends or family) doing something that helps build unity in their community.
> Ask kids to work in pairs or small groups to write a poem, song, or rap about creating unity among people from different backgrounds.
> Choose an item from the quiz and create a short skit that demonstrates that quality in action. (Instruct students not to include a racist joke in their skit, if they choose to illustrate item no. 7.)
Junior Youth/Youth
> Have each person draw a picture of themselves doing something that helps build unity in their community and put them all together in one large community scene. Or give the group a large poster board or sheet of butcher paper, and have them collaborate on a mural showing ways to build community.
> Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to write a poem, song, or rap about creating unity among people from different backgrounds.
> If feasible, ask students to plan and carry out a small-scale service project to do during the school. (Otherwise, ask students to plan a unity-building activity to do when they return to their home communities.)
> RELATED CONTENT
Community Poster - Coloring
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Caring_Community_MJJA15.pdf
Games for Change
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Path of Friendship
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_TAB/BstarTAB__SO16_Path.pdf
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Get to Know You Games
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_TAB/BstarTAB_JA_2017_Know_You.pdf
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Festivities with Friends
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MA15_Festivities_with_Friends_RS.pdf
Shining Lamp: Agnes Alexander - The first Hawaiian Bahá’í
Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: Gather Round https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2015/Music_Gather_Round_MJJA15.pdf
Music Video:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/gather-round
PAGE 10: DANCE WITH DIVERSITY
> PURPOSE
This piece connects the role of a dance partner to the role of a community builder, because both require leadership and collaboration characterized by unity. In this way, “Dancing with Diversity” emphasizes that kids have a role to play and the power to build unity in their own communities.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- What is a leader?
- How should a leader treat others?
- What are ways you can be a good leader?
- What are some ways you can make friends with people in your neighborhood or school?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- What are the qualities of a good leader or partner?
- How should a leader treat others?
- Who is a leader you admire?
- What are ways you can build unity in your community?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader? How can you use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses?
- What is your favorite way to promote unity in your community?
- What diversity exists in your community? What are some ways you can celebrate and honor that diversity?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> Have kids draw a picture of themselves as a leader and think about why they would make a good leader, as well as a way that they would like to help others. Encourage kids to present their picture and answers to the class.
> Play the “freeze dance” game. Play some upbeat dance music. Students must dance with only their feet allowed to touch the ground. When the music stops, they have to freeze and stay frozen until the music starts again.
Some students may enjoy competing, where the last person to freeze (or fall over) is out of the game. The group continues playing until there is only one winning dancer left. Kids who are out of the game dance from the sidelines. Or, for a more cooperative approach, students can cheer together when the whole group freezes as the music stops.
Tips:
https://caldwellorganizedchaos.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-right-way-to-play-freeze-dance-in.html
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Play the “Challenging Choices” game. The online article is here:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/challenging-choices
The PDF can be found here:
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/pdf-play/SOND14p23_Challenging_Choices_Game_comp.pdf
> Work together to create some additional tips about community building, in the style of the “Dance with Diversity” activity.
> Maya’s Mysteries: Colors of Humanity – Work together to do the bubble experiment here:
> Make a short class video about diversity, what it means, and why it’s important. Or invite students to create a skit that showcases community-building tips from the “Dance with Diversity” activity.
> Teach kids the basic steps of a social dance, then ask them what qualities made learning the dance easier and more fun for them and their partner. Ask students to teach the dance to younger kids or adults.
Simple dance steps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFb0EUIkYac
Five minute salsa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdQ87SOfb7Y
> RELATED CONTENT
Quiz: Do You Have a Growth Mindset?
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/quiz-do-you-have-a-growth-mindset
Quiz: What Type of Leader Are You?
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/quiz-what-type-of-leader-are-you
Stars of the Spirit - Connect words about the soul
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2011/MA11_Stars_of_the_Spirit.pdf
The Leader in Me - music video
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/videos/the-leader-in-me
PAGE 17: SHOGHI EFFENDI’S GUIDANCE
> PURPOSE
In Shoghi Effendi’s letter to the U.S. and Canada entitled The Advent of Divine Justice, he urges us to adopt three spiritual prerequisites for success in sharing the Bahá’í Faith with others. These are fair and just behavior, a pure and holy life, and complete freedom from prejudice. This piece describes “the most vital and challenging issue” of racial prejudice and presents a word search of virtues mentioned in the letter that will spur the advent (or arrival) of unity.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten
- What are some ways you like to show kindness to other people?
- How do you feel when you see other people treated unfairly?
- What can you do to help make the world more fair?
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- Why do you think Shoghi Effendi called racial prejudice “the most vital and challenging issue” facing the Bahá’ís?
- He used that phrase in 1938. Is it still true today, over 80 years later?
- What are some ways we can use love, patience, or humility to help build race unity? What’s something helpful you can do when you see or hear about injustice?
- What activities happen in your school or community that can help build race unity?
- What are some ways you like to build unity and friendship with people?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/Kindergarten
> Discuss how Shoghi Effendi wrote 26,000 letters to Bahá’ís all over the world. Help kids imagine that large number in a concrete way. For example, show them 100 pennies in a jar, and explain you’d need 260 jars to have one penny for every letter he wrote.
> Invite the class to write a letter as a group to everyone at the seasonal school, or to a specific person, thanking them for being kind or helpful. Ask for ideas about what the letter should say, then write the letter on a large paper or poster board. Ask everyone to write their name at the bottom.
Early Elementary | Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Invite students to write a letter to the people of their community or the world, in which they describe spiritual qualities and actions that can help to end prejudice and bring peace to all people.
> Divide students into small groups of three or four and ask them to create a skit that shows a group of people building unity with “genuine love, extreme patience, true humility” and “prayerful effort.” Ask each group to perform their skit for the class.
> RELATED CONTENT
Bahá’u’lláh’s Life: Letters to World Leaders - Arabic calligraphy practice
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/explore/Baha/Baha_SO09_r4_RFS.pdf
Prayer: One Peaceful Home - Prayer and vocabulary activity
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/One_Peaceful_Home_MJ16_p27.pdf
What Do You Say? (About Prejudice) - Writing and role play
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/What_Do_You_Say_MJ16_p16.pdf
Privilege: An Unfair Game - Games
Josie the Detective: Powerful Words - Tips with missing words
Stopping Prejudice - Tips with scrambled words
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2014/Stopping_Prejudice_MJ14p9.pdf
Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: I Aspire
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2016/Music_I_Aspire_SO16_p24.pdf
Audio link
https://www.fullcirclelearning.org/iaspire
Treble Chef’s Music Café: I Want to See the Day
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2012/Music_See_the_Day_MJ12p20.pdf
PAGES 18-19: NUR’S NOOK—COLORFUL COMMUNITY:
MAKE A FAMILY & FRIENDS TREE
> PURPOSE
The purpose of this page is to help kids think about and celebrate the diversity and oneness of their community. Using the arts is a fun way to encourage and foster friendships and connect with diverse peers and other community members.
Teacher Preparation - There are a variety of ways that students can incorporate images of family and friends into the craft:
Contact students before the school and invite them to bring photos of family and friends that can be cut and glued onto the tree;
Give families an opportunity to download and print photos from social media sites;
Teachers can take group photos of families and/or classes (5-6 people at a time), and print them out for students;
Students can draw pictures of family and friends;
Students can write names in a fruit shape (if photos are not available).
Quote: “All may be seen to be the parts of the same tree — the great tree of the human family.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá
A template PDF for the tree shape is available online.
> QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Pre-K/Kindergarten | Early Elementary
- What are some things about your friends that make them the same as you?
- What makes your friends different from you?
- What are some things that are cool or amazing about your friends?
- What are some ways you can get to know more kids who are different from you?
- What other things can you do to help stop bullying toward people who are different from you?
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
- Why is it important to make diverse friends (such as from different races or religions)?
- What are some things you’ve learned from friends who are different from you?
- What are some ways you can get to know more people who are different from you?
- What are other ways you let people know that we’re all one human family?
- What other things can you do to help stop prejudice or unfairness toward people from diverse races or religions?
> ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Pre-K/ Kindergarten | Early Elementary
> To adapt the Nur’s Family & Friends Tree activity for young kids, teachers can use brown poster board in place of white square poster board and pre-cut a tree trunk with branches for each child. Use the template PDF to help. Teachers can either pre-make the pop-up portion of each child’s tree card, or kids can glue the tree onto their cards to lay flat.
Have pre-made paper cut-outs of small colorful leaves and circles (for the portraits). With markers or crayons, kids can decorate their card and draw pictures of their family and friends inside several circles. Have them use white glue or glue sticks to add portraits and leaves to their tree. Omit the pop-up sign portion of the craft in Step 8.
> Plan time for students to share their trees, giving each one an opportunity to talk about the people they included on the tree and some of the messages that friends and family wrote to them. This is a keepsake of the seasonal school experience.
> Create a Unity Vision Quilt display with your class, where everyone draws a picture of their vision of a unified world and you compiled them in a display.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ15_Celebrate_Unity.pdf
> Play the Uplift the World game using a beach ball.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ15_Celebrate_Unity.pdf
> Read the book or watch the music video of Sweet Neighbors Come in All Colors, by Lisa Blecker. Discuss the concepts of unity and diversity, then create a “Leaves of One Branch” display in the classroom. To adapt this activity for young children, pre-cut fruits, leaves, and flower shapes made from colorful construction paper. Instead of writing, young children can decorate leaves, flowers, or fruits of the tree with beautiful designs using markers or crayons.
Sweet Neighbors Come in All Colors music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1M_XaqJD8U
> Create a Paper Links of Unity Chain
Pre-make paper cut out dolls of all different colors. Have kids decorate them with crayons, markers, small pieces of tissue paper, and scraps of yarn or fabric. To secure heavier items, thicken white glue with some corn starch on a paper plate to help. Kids can use craft sticks to apply glue. When dry, tape or glue paper dolls together to create a chain and hang it in the classroom.
http://www.pammshouse.com/Project_Paper-Doll-Chain.pdf
Late Elementary | Junior Youth/Youth
> Plan time for students to share their trees, giving each one an opportunity to talk about the people they included on the tree and some of the messages that friends and family wrote to them. This is a keepsake of the seasonal school experience.
> Quiz: How Open-Minded are You?
Ask kids questions from this quiz, or have them take it individually and then share their thoughts about it in a group discussion. Discuss how they can put elements from the quiz into action.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/articles/quiz-how-open-minded-are-you
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2014/Quiz_Open_Minded_MJ14p4.pdf
> Create an Inner Mural with hand prints and display it in the classroom.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ15_Celebrate_Unity.pdf
> Play the Popping Popcorn game as a classroom icebreaker activity.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ15_Celebrate_Unity.pdf
> Play the Spark a Story game to encourage listening and sharing.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ2018_Celebrate_Our_Human_Family.pdf
> Play the Five Things in Common game to help students get to know each other.
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_TAB/BstarTAB__SO16_Path.pdf
> RELATED CONTENT
Maya’s Mysteries: Does Race Exist? - True/False Quiz
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2017/MA17p20_Maya_Race_Quiz.pdf
Privilege: An Unfair Game - Games
Brilliant Star Treasure Box: Celebrate Our Human Family - Games, recipe
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Treasure_Box_MJ2018_Celebrate_Our_Human_Family.pdf
Create a Community of Light
One Family Tree
https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/characters/pdf-character/MJ13_NurFamilyTree_Com.pdf
Treble Chef’s Music Cafe: Fairness https://brilliantstarmagazine.org/uploads/play/Luminous_Library_2011/Music_Fairness_ND11p20.pdf
audio
https://redgrammer.com/index.php/fairness-song.html
Updated on 5.12.19