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What Is War?
A fun, clear explanation of war for 3rd grade students by The Fresh Prince.
Series Summary
In this short educational video, Will Smith (The Fresh Prince) visits a third-grade classroom to explain what war is, why it happens, and how people can seek peaceful solutions. He uses simple examples and friendly language so that young learners can connect the big idea of war to things they see and feel in their own lives.
Facilitation Guidance
This guide is designed for adult facilitators working with 3rd grade youth to build critical consciousness. We recommend:
- Open with a community agreement: define norms of curiosity, respect, and listening before watching the video.
- Frame questions around systems, not blame: emphasize why groups of people go to war rather than labeling individuals as “bad.”
- Invite learners as co-investigators: ask them to connect the ideas in the video to what they already know about disagreements or conflicts.
- Pause and check vocabulary: encourage students to note unfamiliar words (e.g., “conflict,” “negotiation”) and build a shared glossary.
- Close with reflection: have students share one new thing they learned and one question they still have.
Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
Will Smith uses simple analogies and real-life examples to explain war to 3rd graders.
| Critical Theme | Related Example | Exemplar Quote + Speaker | Timestamp | Discussion Questions | Primary Document | Resources to Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defining War | Comparing war to a big playground fight | “War is like a huge fight between countries.” – Will Smith | 00:30 |
|
United Nations Charter (1945): defines war’s legality and rules. | Sun Tzu, The Art of War (sections on conflict resolution). |
| Impact on Families | Explaining people leaving home when war starts | “Sometimes families must leave their homes to stay safe.” – Will Smith | 01:15 |
|
Letter from a World War II soldier to his family (1944). | James Bradley, Voices of War: Stories from the Front. |
| Choosing Peace | Encouraging talking instead of fighting | “We can choose to talk it out instead of fighting.” – Will Smith | 02:00 |
|
Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream” (1963). | Linda Freeman, Freedom Is, Freedom Ain’t (peaceful activism). |
About the Creator
Will Smith
Will Smith is an American actor, producer, and musician best known for starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He often creates content that connects pop culture with learning moments for young audiences.
Follow Will Smith: @willsmith
Related Resources
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Lab Note: What is war
2-minute parent briefTheLiberationLab Work With Us What Is War? A fun, clear explanation of war for 3rd grade students by The Fresh Prince. 3rd grade CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3-5 Summary Facilitation Guidance Social & Historical Context Common Core Standards Episode About the Creator Series Summary In this short educational video, Will Smith (The…
Conversation starters
- What stood out most about What is war?
- Which perspective feels missing, and why?
- What is one respectful action we can take today?
Audio briefing
Podcast script
This Lab Note is powered by PBS Learning. In two minutes, here is your quick brief on What is war: what happened, why it matters, and one question to ask before school. TheLiberationLab Work With Us What Is War? A fun, clear explanation of war for 3rd grade students by The Fresh Prince. 3rd grade CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3-5 Summary Facilitation Guidance Social & Historical Context Common Core Standards Episode About the Creator Series Summary In this short educational video, Will Smith (The…
Social & Historical Context
Teaching about war at an early age can shape how children understand conflict, cooperation, and justice throughout their lives. Historically, elementary curricula introduced war through national narratives or patriotic stories. Recently, educators have shifted toward helping students grasp the human impact of conflict and the importance of peaceful solutions.
This video uses family values and everyday examples—like disagreements on the playground—to make the abstract idea of war relatable. It aligns with broader efforts in elementary social studies to foster empathy, civic understanding, and critical reflection on how communities solve disputes.