Kids everywhere have the power to make a difference in their communities and around the world. This past year, so many incredible kids committed to working on causes and issues that matter most to them.
An article titled “How to Be a Changemaker” featured in the December 2017/January 2018 issue of Scholastic Scope®, a Scholastic Classroom Magazine focused on language arts for students in grades 6–8, compiled a list of top tips that kids can utilize to enact change within their communities. These tips are inspired by the actions of students who are already working to create positive change in their communities:
- Start small. Begin a project that you can slowly chip away at. You don’t have to do something grand to have an impact!
- Use your strengths and talents for good. You can volunteer your time by doing what you enjoy for a good cause.
- Tackle a problem. Identify issues that you see around you and find ways to address them.
- Join a movement. Find people who are already tackling an issue that you care about, and ask how you can help.
- Use your voice. Although you may not be old enough to vote, you can express your concerns and opinions by writing to your mayor or representative in Congress, writing an opinion piece for your local newspaper or making a call-to-action video and sharing it on YouTube.
For kids who want to learn more about how they can enact positive change within their communities, Scholastic recently launched We the People, a free online resource focused on civics education and media literacy for students in grades 4–10.
There is a critical need to help students understand the world around them and how they fit into it. Vibrant discussions around civics education and media literacy can help kids understand their role in the world with concepts such as how to be an active citizen, the importance of being kind and respectful, the long and necessary struggle for equal rights and justice for all, how our government works, how to find reliable information, how to read news critically and how to separate fact from fiction.
We the People is separated into two editions for kids in grades 4–6 and 7–10 to ensure that students and teachers can take advantage of age-appropriate content. Both editions contain content around active citizenship.
Kids in grades 4–6 can read articles such as:
Kids in grades 7–10 can read articles such as:
For more content around civics and media literacy, visit We the People at wethepeople.scholastic.com
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