Young citizens can be change-agents. There have been many young people across our country who have promoted a change that has made our world a better place. For example, there is Marley Diaz who at 11 years old began to collect and donate books that featured girls as main characters in order to provide role models for young girls everywhere. Then there is Mari Copeny who at 8 years old wrote a letter to President Obama about the water crisis in Flint Michigan and caught the attention of the President of the United States. The story you are about to hear is based on events of the recent past. It is the story of the incredible work of Greta Thunberg, an environmental activist whose work began when she was 15 years old. Greta Thunberg, the youngest person ever to be named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year, has called attention to the world-wide crisis caused by climate change.
Read the story Greta and The Giants, think about, and/or discuss the questions below, and then think about how your voice could be a voice for change.
Step 1: Preparing for Leadership:
- S.T.A.R. Card: There are many steps an active citizen takes when trying to make a positive change in their home, school, community, or city. Do you think an active citizen should question authority? Be prepared to support your answer.
- S.T.A.R. Card: Why do you think it is important to listen to other people’s point of view before arriving at your decision?
- S.T.A.R. Card: What are some ways you might get practice becoming an informed voter?
Step 2: To Think About:
1. There has always been discussion as to whether it is better to preserve our vacant land or build on that land to grow a community and increase that community’s economy. Imagine that there was a vacant piece of land in your community. There were two proposals about what to do with that land. One group thought that the land should be used to build a strip mall that would bring more business into the community. The other group wanted to preserve the land as a park where people could walk, ride their bikes, and enjoy nature. Which would you support and why?
2. Did Greta’s plan of action work when she first tried to get the Giants’ attention? Why or why not?
3. Each of us has the potential to become a leader like Greta Thunberg. Think about projects you could work on to make your world a better place. Make a list of projects that interest you. Then choose one to develop a plan of action.
4. Greta needed help from others who supported her plan. In today’s world, we need leaders in every age group to help us implement ideas that could make our world a better place. Imagine you want a group of friends to join you in putting an idea you have into action. What steps would you take to get your friends to work with you?
5. Now let’s practice how to help our friends become more aware of their environment and the need to pick up their trash. Read the following scene and write the words you would use to help your friend be more aware of the environment.
Step 3: Keeping Our Community Clean
Setting: Basketball court in the school playground
Characters: You and a student in your class at school
Conflict: You have been running a campaign to make your classmates more aware of keeping the school and school grounds clear of trash. You see a student in your class playing in the playground after school. As you watch, you see that he is eating pretzels and an orange. What you also see is that he is throwing the bag from the pretzels and the skin of the orange on the ground.
CURTAIN UP:
You: Hi. Did you just throw a bag of orange skins and pretzel crumbs on the ground?
A Classmate: I did…so what?
You: Do you think you could pick it up and throw it in the trashcan?
A Classmate: I have a better idea. You can pick it up and throw it away.
You: I would if you don’t, but I think you should.
A Classmate: Why???
You: (Can you think of a subtle way to encourage the classmate to pick up his trash? Try telling him in only 8 words.
EXAMPLE: You are good at things. Be a leader!