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You Can Change the World: The Kids' Guide to a Better Planet



Last updated Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Author: Lucy Bell
Date of Publication: 2020
ISBN: 1524860921
Grade Level: 5th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jul. 2021

Synopsis: Kids around the world are working together to make our planet a better, safer, happier place—and now you can join in with this practical guide!

You Can Change the World empowers kids to make changes in their lives and communities with the powerful message that anyone can make a difference in the world. This colorfully illustrated book is packed with information, ideas, and activities for everyday sustainability - like mending clothes, composting, and avoiding single-use plastics. Interspersed throughout are features on children around the globe who are making a difference, such as Greta Thunberg or Solli Raphael, reminding kids that ordinary people can spark extraordinary change.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What changes would you like to make to the world?
•  If you were given a superpower to make a difference in your community, what would it be and why?
•  Name a scientist that helped changed the world?

Vocabulary

•  Ethical - relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.
•  Waste - eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required after the completion of a process.
•  Polluted - contaminated with harmful or poisonous substances.
•  Landfill - a place to dispose of refuse and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil, especially as a method of filling in or extending usable land.
•  Recycle - convert (waste) into reusable material; to use again
•  Astounding - surprisingly impressive or notable
•  Produce - things that have been produced or grown, especially by farming.

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Which activity that you learned today interest you the most to help change the world?
•  What is something that you learned today that you never knew before? Ex. The use of plastic cups, straws, reusable shopping bags, etc.
•  Who plans to have a plastic free party for their next celebration to prevent waste?

Craft ideas:
•  Create a plastic free sign! (Paper, crayons, pencil)
•  Check our craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/july-2021the-wonders-of-science-technology/

Special activities:
•  Take a moment to look in your home and see if you have any plastic material in the house (Plastic cups, plastic plates, plastic bags, etc). Bring a plastic item back with you to showcase on Zoom.
•  Count which plastic item was the most favored among all participants.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!