The Peace Rose

A new addition to our peace shelf this week is the Peace Rose.  When I taught Montessori preschool previously we had a peace rose.  I originally got the idea from an article in a Montessori publication.  I believe the article was entitled "Active Peace-making in the Montessori classroom".  I was the first in my previous school to implement it in the classroom and I found it to be very successful in helping young children resolve conflicts peacefully.  This activity is also mentioned in the book I have been using for our peace lessons, Honoring the Light of the Child. 

To introduce this work, I placed a beautiful silk rose in a vase on the peace shelf so it was there when the children arrived in the morning.  We start our morning on line and as we were waiting for everyone to gather I asked them if they noticed anything new in the classroom.  It was funny because they were naming many other things that weren't new.  I had to give them a BIG hint (i.e. tell them it was on the peace shelf) before they noticed it.  Once everyone was gathered, I told them that the beautiful flower was called a Peace Rose and that we would use it to help us talk to each other when something happens that we are upset about.  Next, I read the book The Peace Rose aloud to them.  This book is available from Montessori Services.  Click here for a link to the book on their website.  (NOTE:  In the book the children say the word "Friends" when they have finished making peace.  When I read this to the children I changed the words to "We declare peace."  These are the words I had used previously and I really like hearing little ones use those special words.)

After reading the story out loud, I told them that Miss Ann and I would show them how to use the peace rose in our classroom.  I got out an activity, took it to a table and began working with it.  Miss Ann came over and started touching my work.  (We had obviously planned this ahead of time.  I chose this scenario because it happens often and usually aggravates the working child.)  I stood and walked to the peace shelf and took the rose from the vase.  I brought it back to Miss Ann and said,  "Miss Ann, I didn't like it when you touched my work."  Then I passed the rose to Miss Ann.  She said, "What can I do to make you feel better?"  Then she passed the rose back to me.  I said, "You can tell me you're sorry and stop touching my work."  Then I passed the rose back to her.  She said, "I'm sorry.  I won't touch your work again."  Then we placed our hands on the stem together and simultaneously said, "We declare peace."  And together, we carried the rose back to the shelf and replaced it in the vase.

After our role play, I told the children that they can use the rose when they need to talk to someone.  I reminded them that the rose is not for playing with because we always need to make sure it is available on the peace shelf for children who need to use it to talk about their problems.  I also told them that if someone brings the rose to them, they need to stop their work and look at and listen to that child.  When it is their turn with the rose, they say, "How can I make you feel better?"  I have learned from previous experience that giving them kind of a "scripted" response helps them become more independent with the process.  I also pointed out that the person holding the rose gets to speak and the other person must listen until it is their turn to hold the rose.

On the first morning I introduced the rose I think it was used twice.  I was glad that the children seemed to understand to only use it when there is truly a conflict to resolve.   In each instance, I sat near the children who were using the rose and "prompted" them through the process.  In my experience, they need some of this prompting at the beginning, but they quickly learn the procedure and become very independent.  In my previous school, I distinctly remember a parent who was visiting commenting on how amazed he was at the children's ability to resolve their conflicts completely independent of adult intervention.  I can't wait to see how the children use the rose throughout the year.

We will need to keep reviewing the process and the words, however, because the first time the rose was used, the little boy who initiated it said, "We disagree" instead of "We declare peace"!!!  I thought that was kind of funny.  Since I was right there, I modelled the correct words and had him repeat them, but I was chuckling in my head.  Little ones are so funny!

The top photo shows the rose in its vase on the top of our peace shelf.  It sits next to our peace candle, silence sign and candle snuffer.  The bottom photo shows a close-up of the rose.  It is very realistic-looking.  When I initially presented it one little boy told me we would have to put a lot of water in the vase for it.  This gave me the opportunity to reinforce the concepts of living versus non-living.  We passed the rose around so everyone could see and feel it.  And I explained that this rose won't need to have water.  :0)

Comments

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[Dawn Marie Watson]

This process is integral to a large Montessori classroom as well. We have 38 students in one room. We can't do without our peace area and "bear" . I like the affirming statement of "we declare peace" after they are finished. Thank you and I really appreciate this website

Dawn Marie Watson
Alpha Montessori
Flint, MI

[Lori]

Thank you for sharing, that was beautiful & touching. I was envisioning resolution like this in everyday life outside of the classroom, what a world this would be.

[Illuminated Attic]

I've really enjoyed reading this and your other posts in relation to "Honoring the Light of the Child". Do you feel that these activities would be easily adaptable to a homeschool situation, or do you think that the group element is too integral to the plan?

[A]

Great post about the peace rose! It truly is a powerful symbol in the peaceful classroom. I also loved the way you connected it to your living/non-living work. :)