Hope means believing that things can be better. In a world where children face challenges every day, hope gives them the sense of power to turn things around. Hope transforms setbacks into opportunities and endings into beginnings. Hope makes all other things possible. We hope our POP-UP Mini Box this month brings you and the children in your life a sense of possibility and optimism.

Share your “Circles of Belonging” on Facebook or Instagram!

 
 
The Great Egg of Hope 
Intro: 
Hope is crucial to growth; it transforms challenging times into opportunities for growth. In this fun egg- balancing challenge, children and adults will find ample opportunity to practice hope.
 
Hope is like a muscle; if we practice using it, it grows. The tool we use to grow hope is called TIE. During the egg balance challenge, you will have plenty of chances to practice using this tool. Let’s look at a typically stressful situation- taking a hard test- to examine how TIE could help you grow hope:
 
T is for temporary: Remember that any emotions or thoughts that come up because of the difficulty of this challenge are not permanent. When you feel anxious about a test, you can remind yourself that you will feel differently after the test or the next day.
I is for isolated: This situation doesn’t have to apply to your entire life. While taking the test might be stressful, you can remind yourself that you feel differently about other parts of life: time with family, friends, or doing your favorite activity.
E is for effort: You have the power to change this situation. What can you learn from the stress of this situation– could you put in some effort to study more next time, or could you take deep breaths now to reduce your anxiety?
 
TIE: temporary, isolated, effort.
 
Goal: 
To balance an egg on a table or floor while using the TIE tool to keep hope. Kids and adults will leave this exercise with a tool for increasing hope + optimism. You will use the TIE tool the next time they feel challenged or hopeless.
 
Instructions: 
1. Gather materials. For this activity, the only material you will need is an egg! If you would like, you can also decorate your eggs with permanent markers before you start the challenge.
 
2. You are the hope coach. While you will also be trying to balance the egg, your job will also be to ask questions and remind them about TIE. Before you begin the challenge, think of some ways you can encourage them to practice TIE.
 
3. Balance the egg while keeping hope! Try to balance the egg (picture below) on a flat surface. You will quickly find it is very hard to do! Can you and your child practicing hope with TIE? One hint: the effort part will be extra important. What creative ideas can you and your child come up with to balance the egg?
 
4.  If you get stuck… there is one other secret ingredient that might help you balance the egg if you get stuck. It is a common ingredient in your kitchen– and if you get really stuck, you can find it at the bottom of this email 🙂

 
Discuss:
Of the three parts of TIE, which did you find most useful during this challenge?
Can you think of a past experience when TIE might have been useful?
How did you feel when you finally balanced the egg? Or if you weren’t able to, how do you feel about that?
 
 
Picture Books
 
by Rebecca Janni
Go for a spin up a hill—when the story of a bike ride becomes an inspirational journey. Ride along up and down the hills and valleys of this bike ride. Featuring lyrical text and vivid artwork, Spin shows that any mountain can be climbed. By pushing forward and pedaling around and around, anyone can spin onwards.
 
by Watty Piper
The classic tale of the determined little engine that, despite its size, triumphantly pulls a train full of toys to the waiting children on the other side of a mountain.
 
by Candace Fleming
After World War II there is little left in Katje’s town in Holland. Her family must patch their old worn clothing and go without everyday things like soap and milk. Then one spring morning, the postman delivers a mysterious box – a box from America! Full of soap, socks, and chocolate, the box has been sent by Rosie, an American girl. What’s inside so delights Katje that she sends off a letter of thanks – beginning an exchange that swells with so many surprises that the girls, as well as their townspeople, will never be the same.
 
Chapter Books
 
For two years Deborah Ellis traveled across the United States and Canada interviewing native children. The result is a compelling collection of interviews with children aged nine to eighteen. They come from all over the continent, from Iqaluit to Texas, Haida Gwaai to North Carolina, and their stories run the gamut — despite their challenges, many of the children’s stories are full of pride and hope.

Each month we will be featuring the story of a past POP-Up Festival host. Meet Liliana, a Super POP-UP Host in Monterrey, Mexico.

 
1. In what country were your POP-UP Festivals held? In México. The state is Nuevo León, and the city Monterrey, better known as Sultana del Norte. The place was a kids centre for Emotional Intelligence development.
 
2. How many children attended your POP-UP festival? Fifteen children, all different ages with their moms.
 
3. Do you have a favorite activity from the POP-UP Festivals? The Wish Chain. All the children wrote two wishes in common: Peace for all and time with their parents.
 
4. If you could use a word to describe the POP-UP Festival you held, what would it be? The Future
 
5. What is a tip you would give to a new POP-UP Festival host about holding a festival? Not only one: be organized, ask for help, invite all the people you think could participate, use a lot of color and fun materials, be interactive and… ENJOY!!
 

According to research studies, optimists (people who are usually hopeful) enjoy better immune systems, less likelihood of depression, and more academic success than pessimists.  They are even more likely to eat well and exercise regularly. Why? Because they believe their actions make a difference.

 

Kitchen Table Question:

How do your actions make a difference?

the secret ingredient is to make a small mound of salt on the table!

 

Read about POP-UP FESTIVALS supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

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