International Day of Peace is celebrated worldwide on September 21 and this year the focus is on engaging and mobilizing people throughout the world to show support for refugees and
migrants. Within the past year, people all over the world have dealt with devastation, disappointment and tragedy at the hands of Mother Nature, governments and beyond. It is crucial, now more than ever, that we band together to cultivate a culture of peace and spread positive vibes. The 2017 #PeaceDay theme speaks directly to that fact: “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.”
There are many ways to observe Peace Day:
- At 12PM, in your respective time zone, you can observe a “Minute of Silence,” resulting in a peace wave across the world
- Contribute to community building by volunteering for a youth or service activity
- Gather students for a collaborative project like a painting/collage or encourage them to share stories and discuss how they can contribute to their communities and help their neighbors. Click here for more ideas for the classroom
However you choose to commemorate Peace Day, you can always pick up a book to educate yourself and others on what it means to be peaceful and spread peace. That, in itself, is an act of peace! Check out the books below for messages on peace and a few that shed light on the current state of refugees and migrants:
Talk Peace by Sam Williams (PreK–2)
Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz (PreK–2)
Paths to Peace by Jane Breskin Zalben (Grade 6–8)
Peace Warriors by Andrea Pinkney (Grades 3–5, 6–8, 9–12)
Refugee by Alan Gratz (Grades 3–5, 6–8)
The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel–Fattah (Z+)
How will you celebrate #PeaceDay?
