This weekend, I bought a book that I absolutely love. It is called “Giant Steps to Change the World” by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee. I’ll be honest, the book had me the minute I opened it up and saw the inside cover sprawled with quotes like “Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” -Ben Carson & “One chance is all you need.” -Jesse Owens. Then I looked to the other side of the page and read Albert Einstein’s “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Okay, that was it, I didn’t even care what the story was, I love quotes and I wanted this book. But okay, you never judge a book by it’s inside cover, right? Isn’t that what they say?
The book is easy to read, but has an important message. Everyone has a hero inside of them. The story is about not being afraid to be different, overcoming challenges, and having the courage to make an impact. As I got to the end of the story and saw the astronaut and the words “Take a giant step over that fear—like the giant step one astronaut made on the moon for all mankind, now it’s your turn, everyone’s waiting.” Well, I went to the register to pay right then.
You can read more about Giant Steps to Change the Worldhere at Amazon to see if it would fit in your classroom.
Activity Ideas:
1.) Have each student make a painting of themselves “Changing the World” and use a permananet marker to write their words across their painting describing how they will make an impact.
2.) Use the book as a discussion starter about fears of being different. Gifted kids know ALL about feeling ‘different.’ I am sure they will be able to relate to this book.
3.) Make a bulletin board with a giant set of steps on it. Throughout the year, add small cards to the steps with things the kids write on them when they catch each other doing something great. Put a big title like “Our Steps to Changing the World”
4.) Use the book as a starter for a unit with the big question, “What makes a hero?” Ask students to find and define a hero. They could explore, interview, research and create a project about someone they feel is a hero. Imagine the powerful presentations, digital stories, poetry, and artwork they might make about their own heroes.
5.) Develop a classroom theme around the book! Use bulletin board paper to make several colorful sets of “stairs” all around your room. At the top of each set of steps, put a historical figure and a blurb about the challenge they overcame. Put students photos all over the steps as people “on their journey to make a difference.” Decorate your door with a giant moon, astronaut, and the quote “One small step for man, one giant step into ___ grade!” You could also put foot prints around, have a pedometer walking “step” contest to promote steps around the world, and bring the book to life in your room.
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