Blackford Elementary School

Pinwheels for Peace

Blackford celebrates the International Day of Peace!

In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word.  On September 21, 2021,  students took part in an international art and literacy project, Pinwheels for Peace, by “planting” pinwheels with messages of peace and tolerance around the school.

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two Art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, of Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives.  In the first year, groups in over 1,325 locations throughout the world were spinning pinwheels on September 21st - there were approximately 500,000 pinwheels spinning throughout the world. At last count, in 2019, over 4.5 million pinwheels were spinning in over 3,500 locations, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and South America. In CUSD, pinwheels were "planted" at both Lynhaven School and Blackford School.  The pinwheels represent our students' hope for peace, and a kinder more tolerant world.

One of the core competencies we develop in each of our CUSD students is empathy.  By participating in the Pinhweels for Peace project, our students gain perspective about how they can influence change through intention, creativity and coming together as a community as a way to promote a message of tolerance and empathy for others.  Students designed and decorated their pinwheels with images they felt would convey those themes.  Students also wrote messages and key terms on their pinwheels in an effort to convey a message of hope, peace and tolerance.  As our pinwheels spin throughout the day, our students' messages go out into the world, spreading kindness, caring and love for all. 

Please stop by to see our pinwheels peacefully spinning around the school!