Planting Sunshine

Students participate in a guided discussion about hearing upsetting or confusing news. The teacher establishes a safe environment and emphasizes that emotions such as worry, sadness or anger are valid. Students share coping strategies and discuss how children can be emotionally affected by events happening far away.

Students examine peace symbols such as doves, sunflowers and olive branches. Through discussion, students analyze what each symbol represents and why symbols are used to communicate complex ideas. Students predict how symbols may appear in the text.

The teacher introduces the verse novel format. Students analyze line breaks and spacing in a sample poem and discuss how poetry can convey emotion differently than traditional prose.

Students brainstorm difficult questions they have about the world and discuss how it feels when adults do not have clear answers. This prepares students for Theo’s questioning throughout the story.

The class establishes norms for respectful discussion of sensitive topics, including listening without judgment and the option to pass.

Students maintain an emotion chart tracking Theo’s feelings. For each entry, students identify a specific event and explain how it impacts Theo emotionally.

Students connect events in the story to real-world issues while focusing on human impact rather than political details.

Students analyze Lily’s chalk drawings and discuss how art can be used as protest and emotional expression.

Students create artwork expressing peace or resilience and write an artist’s statement connecting it to the book.

Students brainstorm realistic actions they can take to help others and reflect on their importance.

Students write a personal response explaining how their thinking changed after reading the book.

Skills to Use: Creative Writing

Students rewrite a poem from the book from a different perspective and explain how meaning changes.

Students write acts of kindness on paper strips and reflect on how small actions impact the community.

Skills to Use: Media Literacy

Students select a song representing peace or hope and explain how it connects to the story.

What to Research:

• Common peace symbols such as doves, sunflowers, olive branches, candles and peace signs
• Where these symbols originated
• Why different cultures use different symbols to represent peace

Student Activity:
Students select one peace symbol to research. They create a one-page fact sheet that includes the symbol’s history, its meaning, and a short paragraph explaining how it connects to Planting Sunshine.

What to Research:

• How plants grow from seeds
• Why gardening can help people feel calm or hopeful
• Community gardens and school gardens

Student Activity:
Students research how gardening supports emotional well-being. They design a simple garden plan and write an explanation of how caring for plants can help people cope with strong emotions, connecting their ideas to Theo’s experience.

What to Research:

• Young people who helped others or spoke up for change
• Problems they wanted to solve
• Actions they took

Student Activity:
Students research one child or teen who made a positive impact. They write a short profile describing the problem, the action taken, and what students today can learn from their example.

What to Research:

• How communities help people during wars, disasters or emergencies
• What charities and aid organizations do
• Why helping others matters

Student Activity:
Students research one organization that helps people in need. They create an informational poster explaining who the organization helps, how it helps, and why that work is important.

What to Research:

• Healthy ways children cope with fear, anger or sadness
• Why talking, drawing, movement, and breathing can help

Student Activity:
Students create a personal coping plan listing at least five strategies they can use when emotions feel overwhelming. Students explain when and why each strategy might be helpful.