Teacher Notes

Storytelling has been a fundamental part of human existence since our early beginnings. Embedded in our simple mental representations of life or our various understandings and interpretations of our inner worlds over the past centuries has been our desire to share any thoughts in a good story. Simply, we define our reality by the stories we construct and share with each other.

In contemporary terms, storytelling, being an integral part of human development, can also assist us create a new world, a world at peace and ways of living that are sustainable. This relies upon us creating harmony and peace with our environments. In the 21st Century we have many available technologies that can assist in the sharing of our stories and our understandings, and more importantly, the sharing of our hopes and dreams. These technologies also assist in the creation of solutions to otherwise unsolvable problems.

Essential to the success of higher level reading and thinking is a child’s ability to relate new information to what is already known and understood by them. This allows them to find answers to their own cognitive questions. The consciousness of the child is raised when an another offering higher level language input explores with them issues exposed by a story. It is language that provides the tool for this meaningful examination, reconstruction and growth. Creating alternative peace-building endings to stories therefore empowers children of all ages to redefine their realities and begin creating a more sustainable peace-building way of living and being for all earth's creatures.

The identified TLP Peace-building Elements are inherent in the peace-building story used in this WebQuest. Peace-building stories have:

	happy endings
	everyone winning
	nonviolent resolution
	imaginative and creative
	challenges existing stereotyping
	faith and hope
	peace with the environment
	finding personal peace
	...any element that supports the idea that peace is possible

Anticipated peace-building outcomes

The following outcomes provide the scaffolding used to structure any

peace-building stories and activities developed by the foundation.

trust

positive attitudes	appreciating that there is a meaning and purpose for everything
resilience	to life challenges appreciating every situation is a learning opportunity
simplicity	understanding the importance of simply living so others can simply live
hope	unfailing belief that peace is possible
faith	in humanity's innate knowing of and desire for peace

interdependence

interconnectedness	acknowledging we are all one
sustainability	developing attitudes and behaviours that secure long term peace
responsibility	appreciating and accepting every person's responsibility in relation to peace-building
social justice	acknowledging injustice and attending to it peacefully seeking win-win outcomes
community	working together in ways that are inclusive and respect everyone's rights and needs
pacifism	always solving conflict peacefully and nonviolently
balance	appreciating harmony and living harmoniously especially in relation to the environment
equality	accepting everyone is equal and has their rightful place
service	working productively and willingly for the benefit of building peaceful communities

humanity

human rights	acting in a manner that respects every person's rights and needs
compassion	responding empathetically with kindness
openness	willingness to change
tolerance	treating every person equally and focussing upon bringing out the best in them

This Peace-building WebQuest also involves the creation of peace-building stories or story endings that can be shared with others who can either be read them, told them or they can read themselves. Storywriting relies upon an ability to formulate a logical story plan concurrently with an ability to logically and correctly construct and meaningfully link the unfolding ideas. This is also true for oral storytelling. Editing processes can become part of the activities. Sharing of stories allows for further editing possibilities or for further inspiration to continue more researching and storywriting. Publishing stories for others to read provides further opportunities especially for children to utilise their creative talents and perhaps incorporate their own drawing and design skills or the ICTs in their final published presentations of their stories. All of the processes involved positively encourage and support children's learning.

The foundation encourages self and peer assessment and any activity being undertaken collaboratively.

For more peace-building storytelling activities contact: info@tlpeace.org.au

This WebQuest honours the dedicated work of the Kula Eco Park in Sigatoka Fiji.

www.fijiwild.com

The following references have been used to create this WebQuest.

Tonga and Fiji Fauna

http://www.hackingfamily.com/Flora_&_Fauna/tonga_&_fiji_fauna.htm

Fiji's 'extinct' bird flies anew

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1030462/posts

BirdLife works with Fiji Government to conserve biodiversity

http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2002/08/593.html

Fiji tropical moist forests