Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

By Jen Johnson
Illustrated by Sonia Sadler

Ebook

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As a young girl in Kenya, Wangari was taught to respect nature. She grew up loving the land, plants, and animals that surrounded her—from the giant mugumo trees her people, the Kikuyu, revered to the tiny tadpoles that swam in the river.

Although most Kenyan girls were not educated, Wangari, curious and hardworking, was allowed to go to school. There, her mind sprouted like a seed. She excelled at science and went on to study in the United States. After returning home, Wangari blazed a trail across Kenya, using her knowledge and compassion to promote the rights of her countrywomen and to help save the land, one tree at a time.

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace brings to life the empowering story of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Engaging narrative and vibrant images paint a robust portrait of this inspiring champion of the land and of women’s rights.

For grade-specific ideas, here are a range of classroom resources for learning about Wangari Maathai and using Seeds of Change.

Check out educator lesson plan and activities for Seeds of Change, a title featured in RIF’s Multicultural Book Collections. To find other free activities that inspire young readers as well as learn more about Reading Is Fundamental, visit us at RIF.org.

Check out activities and discussion topics for Seeds of Change in the Coretta Scott King Book Awards 2011 Discussion Guide created by the 2011 CSK Book Awards Committee.

Check out the lesson plan created by Africa Access, founded to help inform the public about quality K–12 books on Africa.

Check out activities and discussion questions to teach about and celebrate women in STEM from the STEM Friday blog.

Discover more reading and craft tips created by the staff and partners of Reading to Kids, a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading.

Learning to Give, an organization focused on philanthropy education resources for students, has created a Seeds of Change literature guide available for educators.