Small Hands, Big Difference - KB

“With my own two hands I can change the world
With my own two hands build a better place
Make a kinder place, make a kinder place
With my own two hands.”

As we approached Martin Luther King Day, we examined the idea of kindness and taking care of other people.  “You can be a King” is the title of a book we read, and from it children used their eyes to look for ways to be helpful and kind to their friends. 

“Tell me about Mr. King,” requested Tanner, remembering the book we read.  “Mr. King,” explained Morah Adi, “Used his eyes to see who needed help then he did something about it.  He used his words and his hands to be kind.”  We encouraged the children to continue using their hands to find ways to help and be kind.

“I can do it!” exclaimed Levi as he offered help to another child opening a paint jar.  “Hands are for coloring with chalk” explained Aliza.  “Here, you can have this bag” offered Mila.  Indeed, little hands can make a big difference.

Kitah Bet children made this big difference as they collected and packaged breakfast items for a local homeless shelter called Rebecca’s Tent.  In fact, we wanted to help so much that we invited the whole school to join our project.  Many families participated by donating breakfast bars, tea, instant coffee, and instant oatmeal.  On Guy’s Day, the whole school incorporated this service project as one of their activities with the guests.  The shelter was overwhelmed with IJP’s generosity. 

To artistically display this idea of using hands to make the world a better place, we created a hand stamping art project.  Children took turns squishing their hands into their choice of colorful paint and stamping them onto paper to reveal a beautiful design.  Just as each of these hand prints is unique, so too each friend is beautiful in his or her own way.  Each has unique gifts to offer the world and can create unique solutions to help others.