The language of hope collage:
A group activity. Give each group some old magazines and ask them to make cut out words (and/or images) to make two collages - one with words that are hopeful and one with words that are not hopeful. Each group to display their collages to the class. Now ask students which words they use most frequently, and discuss how they might incorporate more of the words that are hopeful into everyday use.
Building Hopeful Communities
What would a Hopeful Community look like? What kinds of organisations, institutions, values, ideas, assets and information would a Hopeful Community consist of? In a group, list as many elements that you think should be found in a Hopeful Community. Give your community a name. Find images, words, symbols and signs that may represent the elements of the Hopeful Community that you have agreed on. Create a map, collage or even computer generated image as an interpretation of your Hopeful Community. What slogan would you give to your Hopeful Community?
You may also like to apply this activity to a Hopeful World. What are the key elements of a Hopeful World? What kinds of issues may need to be addressed in order to create a Hopeful World?
Democratic Discussion Circles
This activity will work well with upper-primary children. In groups, study websites, newspapers and other types of media about local, national and international news and events. Select an issue that the group agrees on. Research the issue further and design a verbal presentation which reflects the perspectives of different media institutions and formats.
As a whole class, sit in a big circle where every student can see each other. Each group presents their topic and then invites the other students to discuss, debate and share opinions and concerns. Students should think about these issues in terms of ideas about ‘hope’; does the issue have positive or negative implications for society/animals/the environment? How could the issue be changed? Who should take responsibility for making change? How can the issue be thought of from an optimistic perspective?
It is important to develop a set of values and principals that guide the democratic discussion circle. Values such as inclusion, acceptance and tolerance should be upheld. One class group could even act as mediators to ensure the principals and values are maintained. |
