By Millie Hanks, second grader and world changer
Hi! I’m Millie, and I am in the second grade. I did a lesson about making the world a better place with the Kindergartners at Durham Academy (DA). It all started when my class and I read a book “The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation On Trial” with Mrs. Rosen, our librarian. The book got me concerned. I wanted to talk with Mrs. Rosen, so we planned a lunch together. We talked about the history of how African-Americans were treated. A Kindergarten teacher at DA joined, and Mrs. Rosen introduced me to her. Her name was Mrs. Allan. Mrs. Rosen told her what we were talking about, and she thought that I should do a lesson with her Kindergartners. And, that is exactly what I did!
Mrs. Rosen suggested that I could use the book “Sadie McGrady Runs for President.” I saw the author at a school assembly. I knew what the author looked like, but I had never met her. After reading the book a couple of times at home, I realized this would be the best book to use for the lesson. Sadie McGrady inspired me because she thought she could do anything she put her mind to. I thought about it, and I drew this worksheet that I thought the Kindergartners in Mrs. Allen’s class could do.
The worksheet said: What Can You Do To Make The World A Better Place? I drew a box at the bottom of the page for the Kindergartners to draw or write what they were feeling or what they could do to make the world a better place. My mom thought the worksheet was perfect. We copied it on the printer.
I met with Mrs. Rosen before the lesson to show her the worksheet I had planned. She said I could do the lesson on Thursday, February 23 at 11:30. I said that would be great! (It was on my half birthday!)
The big day came
. I walked down to the Kindergarten hall and found Mrs. Allan’s room. I talked to Mrs. Allan and said I was so excited to do the lesson with them. She said that she was really glad to have me.
When I reached the point when we did the worksheet, they put their thoughts and hopes down. We got in a sharing circle and shared our ideas to make the world a better place. They said things like they would pick up litter, help other people in different ways and all in all, I think they can inspire change by not only following me, but also following what they believe in.
(P.S. I would like to thank Mary Parry for inspiring me with her book, Ms. Butler for planning and helping me along the way, Mrs. Allan for letting me do this lesson and Mrs. Rosen for talking to me to let me know I can do anything I put my mind to!)
Editor’s note: Mary Parry is a member of Book Harvest’s Authors’ Circle.