Children Making a Difference

When I was in high school (quite a while ago), there was a sit-in at my school. In the large hallway across from the office, a large group of black students sat. One white girl sat in the midst of them. Her name was Jackie. She was pretty and she was popular and I looked at her and wondered why she was sitting there. Jackie, obviously, knew something I didn’t. Although I called myself friends with many of the students sitting there, I didn’t know much about their lives. I didn’t know that they all lived on one side of town – the not-so-good side. I didn’t know that there were still laws in our country that restricted where blacks could eat, where blacks could go to school, and what jobs they could have. Even though I called them friends, I really didn’t know much about their lives. Without knowing, I could not understand. As teachers we have a responsibility to educate our students and help them understand the issues facing children who are not just like them. Only then will our students be able to realize that there are still problems and issues in the world that can only be solved if people step up and try to make a difference. These books are all about children who made the choice to try to change an injustice. Hopefully, we can inspire our students to do the same. And, I really wish I had sat with Jackie.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Changing the world through invention….William Kamkwamba lived in a tiny village in Malawi. His family was totally dependent on maize, a corn crop. When a horrible drought struck his village, William and his entire family began to starve. William, who was unable to attend school due to lack of money, visited the library where he learned about windmills. Using scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump water to the fields so they could once again farm the land. This book is especially inspirational for kids who love science and enjoy figuring out how things work.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose

Changing the world when it’s dangerous….During World War Two the Germans occupied Denmark. The leaders of Denmark refused to resist the occupation. Knud Pederson and handful of classmates decided to take action against the Nazis. They formed a secret club called the Churchill Club and sabotaged the Nazis. Although the boys get arrested and imprisoned, their efforts spark a full scare Danish resistance which results in getting almost all of the Danish Jews safely to Sweden. This book is a great companion to the book Number the Stars in which the Danish Resistance has a primary role. Reading this book made me realize just how courageous the members of the Resistance were. It's a great book for adults as well as kids.

Malala A Brave Girl From Pakistan Iqbal A Brave Boy From Pakistan by Jeanette Winter

Changing the world by speaking out… Malala and Iqbal were both children from Pakistan. Malala's village, the Swat Valley was infiltrated by the Taliban who gained power in the area. The Taliban discouraged girls from going to school. When she was only eleven, Malala spoke publicly about the importance of education for girls. The Taliban shot her and although she almost died, she continued to speak out about the right of all children to get an education. Iqbal Masih spoke out about the inhumane slavery of children in the carpet factories in Pakistan. He also was shot and 800 mourners wept at his funeral. Both children risked their lives to speak out for what they believed was right. This book is not only important for children to learn to stand up against injustice but also to help children recognize that doing so can be dangerous and have tragic outcomes. Weighing risk and responsibility is an important lesson and needs to be seriously discussed in classrooms.

Brave Girl Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Melissa Sweet

Changing the world through protest…When Clara arrived in the U.S., she couldn’t speak English and she didn’t realize that poor young women had to work long hours sewing in garment factories for very little money. Wanting an education, Clara went to night school and spent hours studying English. Clara could not accept that girls should be treated so badly and paid so little. So Clara fought back and led the largest walkout of women workers in this country’s history. By the time the strike was over, hundreds of bosses had shortened the work week and raised salaries. This book could be used to help students question injustices that still exist and contemplate possible solutions to address the injustices.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

Changing the world at the age of six…Ruby Bridges did not ask to be a hero when she was six years old. This role was forced upon her when she was one of four little African American girls ordered to go to an all-white school in an attempt to desegregate the schools in New Orleans. She had to be escorted by federal marshals through mobs of people protesting her attendance at the all-white school. She had the classroom to herself because no one wanted their children to be in school with her. The most inspiring part of the book is when her teacher, Ms. Henry observes her pause and appear to talk to the crowd. When Ms. Henry asks her what she was saying, she innocently tells her that she prays for God to forgive the people every day, and that she forgotten to do this until she was near them that day. This is a great book to use as catalyst for a discussion or writing assignment related to when a student had to be brave or had to face a difficult situation.