Yasmin

=**WORKING WITH A THIRD GRADE CLASS**= //"When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace."//-The Dali Lama

Visiting the third grade class was an experience to remember. The purpose of our visit was to interact with the third graders and discuss peace. The dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima was the center of our discussion. Our class divided into groups, and prepared to present an issue relating to the dropping of the bomb. Not only did they learn something about our presentations, but we also learned many things from their presentations. Working with the third grade class moved us a step closer to peace, because we got to know each other, and we were able to come to a mutual understanding of how inhumane the dropping of the atomic bomb was. By meeting other students in the school, we are able to create peace in our environment. We can extend this project by involving all high schools students in interacting with the Elementary school students, on Peace day.
 * ===__Our Visit to the Third Grade Class:__===
 * [[image:DSC00070.jpg width="163" height="182" align="left" caption="Working with a third grade student"]] || [[image:DSC00066.jpg width="229" height="199" align="right" caption="The International class working with the third grade students"]] ||

The third grade class presented to us the story of __Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes__. It is about a girl named Sadako, who was only two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Although the dropping of the bomb was many years ago, it had impacted her terribly. Sadako becomes diagnosed with leukemia. Sadako, is reminded that if she folds 1,000 paper cranes she would be granted a wish. In honor of Sadako, a children's peace monument was built in Hiroshima Peace Park.The story of Sadako made the topic of our discussion relevant because it was an extraordinary example of how innocent people suffered from the atomic bomb.
 * ===__The Story of Sadako Sasaki:__===

//"Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes. It can no longer be of concern to great powers alone. For a nuclear disaster, spread by winds and waters and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike. Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind."//- John F. Kennedy
 * ===__Nuclear Weapons__===

Though we are unable to clear all nuclear weapons from the world because every nation has a different policy towards it, we can however start off by having all member nations of the United Nations, sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty( NPT). By signing this treaty it would ensure the limitation of mass production of nuclear weapons, thus moving us a step closer to peace.

__Peace__
One of the question in which we discussed with the third grade class was, what is peace? Does it have a smell, taste, feel, etc? It was very interesting to see how "peace" meant different things to people. While some said that peace is "everyone getting alone and not fighting", others said peace is "being happy". To me, peace means reaching the ultimate state of happiness, and one must work to reach that state. I believe peace can be created in our world, if nations understood each other culturally, and spiritually.

__Five points have been identified as ways to develop a culture of peace at CAC:__ • //Communicate and interact respectfully • Seek peaceful solutions to conflict • Engage in democratic, collaborative decision making • Practice empathy, compassion and forgiveness • Work to sustain our environment//

one Johnson, Lewis. "Peace Quotes." (2006) 23 September 2007 <[|http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_peace.html>.]
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