OBJECTIVE
Students learn what it means to create positive change in their community.

MATERIALS
Miss Rumphius - Barbara Cooney

• Take your students on a "picture walk." Turn from page to page through the book, asking your students what they see and what they think is happening in the story.
• After going through the book, have your students make predictions about the story's plot. Ask, What do you think this book is about? Who do you think the main character in the book is? Did you see anything that looked familiar? Did you see anything that looked confusing?
• Read Miss Rumphius and make sure to reference the students' predictions during and after reading it.

• Why do you think Alice's grandfather told her that she needed to do something to make the world more beautiful?
• Where did Miss Rumphius get the idea to spread flower seeds everywhere?
• What difference did it make that Miss Rumphius had spread the seeds?
• People called her crazy for spreading the seeds around town. How does that make you feel? Why?
• Is it always easy to do good things? What can make it difficult?
• Do you think the flowers will go away if Miss Rumphius does not continue to plant them? Who else could spread the seeds?
• Think about Miss Rumphius. Can one person's good intentions and actions make a difference?
• What can you do to make your community a better place to live?

• Have your students think of ways they could make their community a better place to live.
• Keep track of these ideas by writing them on the board.
• Tell your students to draw a picture that represents what they can do to improve their community. Remind them of how Miss Rumphius made her town more beautiful.
• Have students share their pictures with the class and explain the change they would bring to the community.
• As a class, decide on one thing you can do to improve your town, school, or even your classroom community.
• Carry out this project and invite parents and community members to come and celebrate it.

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