From Seed to Forest: Middle School Students Reflect on Peace

In Language Arts class, students expressed their understanding of peace through poetry. Middle schoolers composed haiku centered on peace, carefully choosing words to capture ideas of cooperation, kindness, and understanding. Seventh graders also studied the Nobel Prize acceptance speech of Wangari Maathai, using her words as the foundation for blackout poetry that emphasized themes of activism, care for the Earth, and collective action.

For many students, peace extended beyond words on a page. As Fred shared, “To me, peace means the international cooperation of ALL people.” Ryan reflected on peace as something practiced daily, explaining that “peace is where everyone can look past others’ differences and compromise.” Siddharth described peace in simple, meaningful terms, saying, “To me, peace looks like people saying good things to each other.”

Peace Week also emphasized connection and collaboration across grade levels. Seventh graders partnered with their fourth grade buddies on a shared art project: a fabric quilt featuring a growing tree. Each piece of the quilt represents how small actions—like seeds—can come together to build something strong and lasting. The quilt includes the Peace Week theme and quotes about peace that students found especially meaningful.

Students also reflected on why Peace Week matters within the school community. Eva shared that Peace Week is important because “it brings the whole community together and allows an opportunity to learn how important peace is.” Freddie echoed that sentiment, noting, “Peace week is important because it shows us that being peaceful helps the earth and ALL of us.”

Art played a central role in this exploration. For Carina, creative expression is a powerful tool, explaining, “Art is one of my favorite classes. You can use art for activism, to raise awareness, and to educate others.”

Together, these reflections show how Barnesville’s middle school students understand peace not as a single idea, but as an ongoing practice—one rooted in empathy, cooperation, and shared care for one another. From individual voices to collaborative projects, Peace Week reminded students that peace grows best when nurtured together, from seed to forest.