Celebrating the Peace Tree Spirit!
What is the Peace Tree Spirit and How Will it Enrich the Life of Every Student?
Inspired by the Award-Winning Film the Peace Tree, the Peace Tree Spirit will…
● inspire our students and families to create peaceful and inclusive schools and
communities by giving them the opportunity to explore all our vibrant cultures through
the arts and literacy…
● help our students and families understand and respect our diverse ways of life,
traditions, customs and faiths around the world…
● encourage our students to experience, understand, respect and embrace our
diversity, so they will be inspired to incorporate it into their work to create new forms of
art, music, dance, games, customs and traditions through fusion…
● inspire our students and families to take pride in their heritage, while learning about
the world around them in order to achieve a balance between their roots and their new
culture…
● help our families understand the importance of raising their children with open-minds
and show how diversity enriches each and every life…
● provide opportunities for students to apply the skills they are learning in school in the
real world…
● inspire communities to unite through our diverse and vibrant celebrations
● encourage students and families to view the world through the lens of great peace
leaders and to embrace their philosophy of non-violence, cooperation, patience,
compassion, kindness, respect and apply it to our own lives in order to solve conflicts
and injustices we see in the world…
● inspire students and families to take action and ‘be the change we wish to see in the
world’; to get involved in social justice initiatives by combining our imagination with
diversity to help underprivileged children while creating peaceful and equitable schools,
communities, cities and countries around the world.
Create a Peace Tree Club in Your School
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Find a teacher who is passionate about celebrating diversity and committed to
spearheading the club or the initiative through his/her class
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The Peace Tree Club will enable students to utilize their talent and skills they are
learning in school in order to promote peace in the school and community.
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Assign positions of responsibility based on students’ interest and talent (CoChairs, Artistic Directors, Webmasters, Promotions, Treasurers etc.)
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Create a Peace Tree Centre in the school and brainstorm simple and more
involved ways to celebrate diversity and promote peace over the school year
through the Peace Tree Spirit! (See pg. 117 in Peace Tree Resource guide for a
list of ideas or visit peacetreeday.com/documents/116-117.pdf)
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Create a schedule/timeline to implement the ideas.
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Have students research the various ‘Festival of Lights’ and share their findings
on the morning announcements. Organize a ‘Peace Tree Festival of Lights’
celebration in your school. Details at peacetreeday.com
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Develop plans and designate responsibilities to students in order to organize and
celebrate Peace Tree Day on June 1st.
Peace Tree Day…
…a festival of peace, diversity and fusion through the arts and literacy
to engage children and youth in social justice initiatives…
The Peace Tree Club can organize the Peace Tree Day celebration on June 1st for the
community. Students can engage other students, parents, staff and community
organizations to help organize and celebrate the day. Some cities have also proclaimed
June as Peace Tree month. In case June 1st is a holiday, select a day near June 1st to
celebrate the festival.
Peace Tree Ambassadors can connect with Toronto Peace Tree Ambassadors to share
ideas to implement their Peace Tree Day celebrations. Write to
torontopeacetreeambassadors@yahoo.com to get connected.
You can also invite a Peace Tree Ambassador in order to celebrate Peace Tree Day in
your school during the month of June and to present the Peace Tree film and the Peace
Tree Spirit for your school. Email info@peacetreeday.com . Only available within the
TDSB.
To celebrate Peace Tree Day, students should select a children’s charity of their choice
that they would like to support by raising funds through the creation of their handmade
crafts and performances reflecting diversity and fusion through the arts, music, dance
and games from around the world.
Peace Tree Day Preparations and Workshop Ideas…
All Peace Tree Day Workshops are led by children and youth. Preparation time takes 4
– 6 weeks for students to do their research, create their presentation boards, and to
learn and present dynamic presentations that will engage and inspire other children and
youth to celebrate diversity and promote peace. Students who are strong presenters
can be workshop leaders and others can be assistants. High school students can
invite local elementary and/or middle school students to take part in their Peace Tree
Day celebration. The following are possible Peace Tree Day workshop ideas:
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Powwow Circle of Peace ● Introduction to Peace Tree Day
Creating a Community Peace Tree
Rangoli through Reflection ● a welcome symbol for everyone
Deaf Culture and Sign Language
Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes
African Drumming and Tabla Beats
Mehndi Peace Symbols
Medicine Wheel…Peace from All Directions
Nordic Woven Heart Baskets for Peace
Tai Chi Centre
Spin the Dreidel
Mancala Logic Game from Africa
Bilboquet ● French Ball in Cup Game
Chinese Brush Painting
Yoga Corner
Salsa and Korean Ribbon Dance
Interfaith Dialogue (Gr. 7 to 12) ● Why do I Wear a Hijab, Keepa…
Peace Tree Film Festival and Discussion ● Iqbal Masih to Craig Keilburger