On this day in 1945…
…fifty-one countries sat at one big table and promised to talk instead of fight.
§ The story
A terrible war had just ended. It was the biggest war ever, and it had lasted six years. Cities were smashed. Families were split. Everyone was tired.
The people in charge of many countries had an idea. What if we all sat down at ONE big table, and every time we felt like fighting we TALKED first? Not just two countries. All of them. Together.
On 24 October 1945, fifty-one countries signed a piece of paper called the UN Charter that promised exactly that. Today, 193 countries sit at that table. It is still hard. But they still sit.
» You read this line
Fifty-one countries sat at one big table.
» You read this line
They promised to talk instead of fight.
Close the book. Tell it back. Every year on this day is called UN Day.
§ Tell it in three pictures
Three pictures: the war ending, the signing of the paper, and a big round table with flags around it.
Harder, go as far as you can — Under picture 2, write how many countries signed at the start.
Check yourself: 51 countries.
§ The promise
Say the first line three times. Add the next. Then say the whole thing holding hands in a circle.
Illuminate — Illuminate the great letter W with tiny flags around it.
§ Number page
The UN started with 51 flags around the table. Today there are 193 flags.
Check yourself: a) 11 b) 193 is bigger d) 7
§ Draw the inside
Draw a HUGE round table from above, like you are a bird looking down. Around the edge, draw one little chair and one little flag for each of five countries: UK, USA, France, Russia, China.
drawn by me
Labels
§ Listening minute
The UN's real job is LISTENING. Sit for one minute and listen for voices — near and far.
How many DIFFERENT voices did you hear in one minute?
§ Move & notice
Catch
Sit in a circle with your family. Each person says one thing they want to happen this week. Everyone listens without interrupting.
Predict first
Guess who will find it hardest not to interrupt.
§ The thinking question
Can a piece of paper really stop a war? What has to be true for it to work?
For your treasury book
PEACE
From the Latin pax, a promise not to fight. A very old word.
Copy PEACE into your treasury book. Draw a dove or an olive branch beside it.
Test the grown-up tonight — Ask Daddy how many countries are in the UN today. Almost no one gets 193.
§ For the corridor timeline
First, look at your timeline string. Does a panel for this century already hang there? If not, cut out the century panel below. Then clip the event card onto it.
THE 20th CENTURY · the 1900s
event cards clip below this line — leave room, more will come
Event card
THE UN IS FOUNDED, 1945
Fifty-one countries sign the Charter of the United Nations.
draw the event here before you clip it up
§ Evening review
FOR DAD
Morning ignition (10 minutes)
Today is UN Day. On this exact date in 1945, fifty-one countries signed a piece of paper promising to sit down and TALK instead of fighting.
The sealed question
“How many countries are at that big table now? And is talking really enough?”
Evening review, in this order
Mark the badges (circle one for each)
One line worth remembering from today
the day is sealed here
Add to your week