Pinwheels held high and spinning merrily in the wind, Clearview Elementary third-graders paraded their way outdoors Wednesday morning to celebrate International Day of Peace with Pinwheels for Peace.
Pinwheels for Peace is an international art and literacy project begun in 2005 by two art teachers as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s happening in their lives and the world around them.
Students write their thoughts about peace on one side of the pinwheel, and on the other side they express their feelings through design. On International Day of Peace the pinwheels are “planted” outside as a public statement and art exhibit worldwide.
Clearview third-graders created their pinwheels in art teacher Kathy Gerdts-Senger’s classroom earlier in the week. It’s the sixth year she has held the event.
Wednesday morning the students gathered in a circle on the school’s front lawn, planted their pinwheels in the shape of a peace sign, and sang songs about peace led by music teacher Karen Ingeman on guitar.
Afterward students had the opportunity to stand up and share what peace means to them with their classmates.
The International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day, was begun by the United Nations in 1981, which declared Sept. 21 as a day devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. Each year, millions of people across the world take part in activities to celebrate peace and what it means to them.
