Inspired by the 'Let's Stick Together' peace lesson from Montessori Life magazine
The Kindergarten Class of 2021
Artists: Rumi Ahmad, Anika Banerji, Alannah Besharatian, Fiona Cobb, Maeve Cunningham, Moira Fischer, Ever Gilhool, Vivian Gooch, Leila Gorman, Mellie Griffith, Amara Gupta, Emma Heitzenrater, Yori Howell, Aarav Jain, Ava Lien, Veer Mehta, Marley Montgomery, Sasha Nagele, Olivia O'Halloran, Mila Panchev, Ezra Roberts, Brody Schiffman, Lucas Smith, Sullivan Stern, Nathan Sugarman and Stephen Wells
Guided by Diana Mousetis & Olivia Powers
Each Primary class helped students to explore the concept of "Stronger Together," by comparing the brittleness of a single stick with the strength of a group of sticks. Teachers guided students in applying this fact to the concept of problem solving and how to be peacemakers together. Children talked about kindness, love, communication, and unity.
Despite the hardships and unique circumstances of this pandemic school year, the kindergartners collaborated on this piece from each of their separate classes, creating for the first time, a single collaborative Kindergarten art project for the auction. The project started with... the Greene Towne community gathering sticks from the surrounding Philadelphia area- neighborhoods, the Wissahickon Trail, and city parks. Next, the kindergarteners prepared the sticks by removing all bark, sanding each stick smooth, then washing and drying before being treated by a teacher. Lastly, each child chose whether to paint or to yarn wrap their stick using cool colors to evoke peace. The finished sticks were then compiled and assembled in an abstract way to create a work of art that perfectly represents us being stronger together.