The Seed

by Isabel Pin (North-South Books Zurich Switzerland 2001)

peace with ourselves-peace with each other-peace with the environment

highly recommended but unavailable - maybe a copy in your local library

 

This delightful story for all ages to enjoy and share together contains many peace-building elements and explores our understandings about difference and how we can solve problems peacefully:

  • happy endings

  • everyone winning

  • nonviolent resolution

  • imaginative and creative

  • challenges existing stereotyping

  • faith and hope

  • peace with the environment

  • finding personal peace

  •     …..an element that supports the idea that peace is possible

The Scarabs and the Chafers were two tribes that never ever crossed each other's borders. But on one particular day something that fell out of the sky landed right in the middle of the border that divided their regions. The two tribes' ability to remain peaceful began being tested. Unfortunately they prepared for war as each tribe wanted to own the thing.

In the meantime, though, this strange thing that fell out of the sky, transformed into a beautiful cherry tree and its branches spread over both their lands. Both tribes realised they could SHARE its beauty and its fruit forever.

The happy ending in this story certainly does

involve everyone winning.

War was avoided.

The two tribes learned to share.

Everyone lived in peace and harmony.

Critical questions to explore with children

  • What were the Scarabs’ and Chafers’ first reaction to the seed?
  • What did each community plan to do? What things did they do differently?
  • Why did both communities want to possess the seed?
  • Did both communities really want to solve the problem with war?
  • What was happening to the seed while they were preparing for war?
  • How was the war cancelled?
  • Does the story have a happy win-win ending?

Creative questions to explore with children

  • What kind of plant do you think the seed grew into?
  • Who do you think gave them the seed?
  • Why do you think the Scarabs and Chafers prepared to go to war?
  • How else could the story have ended with win-win?

© Teaching and Learning for Peace Foundation February 2005

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