In violence, from neglect to physical abuse, rapport is missing. It also seems in our relationship with the Earth and nature, rapport is missing. When rapport is experienced, as the American Indian wisdom states, we speak with one mind. We begin to care. Development of rapport is encouraged by having the students choose their favorite species and build rapport with it.
Children seem tocome with an innate sense of rapport.
This natural rapport can beused as a powerful motivational tool. Masks are excellent rapport building tools for young and old. Mask making is nearly a universal human activity. For our purposes, making masks is a powerful rapport developer and it also leads, through activity and study, to the celebration of Earth Day. Mask making evokes emotional ties to the chosen creature.