homelessness

14 Children’s Picture Books About Homelessness

by Marsha Rakestraw People and animals without homes surround us year-round, but their presence seems more palpable in the winter months. As rates of poverty and homelessness grow, so do children’s questions about those who don’t have a home. Teacher Mary Cowhey, author of Black Ants and Buddhists, said, “One might argue that the realities…

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halloween dogs

Tips for a More Compassionate, Earth-friendly, Healthy Halloween

by Marsha Rakestraw According to the National Retail Federation, people in the US are planning to spend about $9 billion dollars on Halloween in 2018, an average of almost $87 per person. That’s a lot of candy corn and plastic fangs. And the biggest growth trend is in pet costumes. There are numerous reasons to…

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Two children sitting at a table reading picture books and surrounded by bins and shelves of children's books

19 Lists of Children’s Picture Books for Your Humane Education Classroom

by Marsha Rakestraw Children’s books are a terrific tool for sharing positive values, teaching students (in age-appropriate ways) about global ethical issues, and inspiring them to take positive action. They are a powerful part of any classroom and curriculum. Here’s a round-up of 19 of our lists of suggested children’s picture books on a variety…

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plastic pollution

I Taught Kindergarteners About Plastic Pollution, and They Are Eager to Be Part of the Solution

by Elizabeth O. Crawford, Ph.D. During Earth Week 2018, I was a guest presenter to kindergarteners attending Island Montessori School (IMS) located in the beautiful, coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina. As teacher educators often remark, classroom visits rejuvenate and inspire our work preparing the next generation of educators. When we spend time with children…

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Giving In to “Bad Guys”: The Parental Struggle of Making Choices That Support Our Values

Image courtesy of mikecs83 via Creative Commons.  We’re swamped with some exciting projects (stay tuned), so please enjoy this repost from 11/23/10. by Mary Pat Champeau, IHE’s Director of Education “Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates us to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplike passivity,…

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thanksgiving

9 Turkey-Friendly Children’s Books for Thanksgiving

by Marsha Rakestraw Traditionally, stories involving Thanksgiving end up with a turkey on the table, but as more families are celebrating Thanksgiving by seeking more mindful and compassionate choices, they’re also looking for children’s stories where the turkey has a happy ending. Here are 9 turkey-friendly picture books. Over the River: A Turkey’s Tale by…

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ants

Cultivating Compassionate Kids: 10 Children’s Picture Books

by Marsha Rakestraw One of the deepest wishes of many parents is that their children will grow up as thoughtful citizens, showing compassion for people, animals and the earth throughout their lives. Reading and discussing children’s picture books is a great tool for helping children embrace compassion for others. Here are 10 suggested titles: 1….

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¿A Quién Acaricias y A Quién Te Comes?

¿A Quién Acaricias y A Quién Te Comes?

Conduzca a estudiantes en una actividad que explora por qué tratamos tipos diferentes de animales diferentemente, y cómo podemos aprender a verlos con ojos diferentes. Recomendado para grados 5 y mayor Duración: 60 minutos

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Alien in the Ethical Universe

Un Extraterrestre En El Universo Ètico

Un/a extraterrestre tiene una misión a aprender cómo se tratan a la gente y animales y el diálogo se inspira a los estudiantes considerar las inconsecuencias de la sociedad con respecto al tratamiento de seres diferentes. Recomendado para grados 5-9 Duración: 20-45 minutos

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