Strong Kids, Strong World
Over the past few years, we noticed a pattern of bullying and confrontation emerging among our fifth graders, stemming from students' lack of concern for one another. This year, we decided to take a preventative approach to this situation and hit on topics such as bullying and conflict resolution hard and early. The goals for our "Strong Kids, Strong World" teambuilding experience were to have the fifth grade class become more closely connected, develop skills to help deal with adolescent issues, and learn to independently handle conflict in a healthy manner. We planned to do this by focusing on the following topics: tolerance, understanding another perspective, learning to put others first, dealing with comments (criticism) from others, and not giving bullies any power over you. For one full day of school, as well as two follow-up sessions, students worked with each other and two world-renowned child behavioral specialists over various activities to learn about themselves, others, and peer relationships. They worked to see each other as not just classmates, but human beings, who have feelings, emotions, and stories very similar to theirs.