What Does Peace Mean? Kindergarteners Share Ideas
Social Studies Research and Practice
ISSN: 1933-5415
Article publication date: 1 November 2012
Issue publication date: 1 November 2012
Abstract
Kindergarteners’ (n=41) concept of peace, a foundational social studies concept, was investigated via pre- and post-assessments that first, asked them to physically demonstrate how they looked or felt when they were at peace, second, asked them to draw a scene showing peace, and third, to caption the drawing. In pre-assessments all but three children demonstrated aggression and drew aggressive stances accompanied by captions indicating aggression. After opportunities to read about, discuss, and explore the concept of peace over five weeks, post-assessment occurred. In the post-assessments none of the data indicated aggression. Categories coded showed peace described as enjoyable activities, pro-social behaviors, and quietness/calmness/privacy. The study suggests hypotheses for further research investigating the concept of peace among very young children and possible factors influencing their concept and implications for social studies curriculum.
Keywords
Citation
Sunal, C.S., Kelley, L.A. and Sunal, D.W. (2012), "What Does Peace Mean? Kindergarteners Share Ideas", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-03-2012-B0001
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Publishing Limited