At what age does a person become a leader? For educators, the answer is simple. Kids are leaders. Kids have ideas, solve problems, and influence others. Our challenge is how to nurture, encourage, and guide the development of leadership skills.
An article posted on PennState Extension stated the value of developing leadership skills in children.
“Leadership skills allow children to have control of their lives and the ability to make things happen. Leadership instills confidence, and helps children solve problems creatively, work in a team, and work collaboratively with others. Leadership gives children many opportunities to develop responsibility.”*
Leaders who make informed decisions, care for our communities and bring out the best in people are desperately needed. Now. We do not have to wait to see what kids will do in the future. What can kids do now to suggest ideas, solve problems, and influence others?
Here are some issues that kids around the world are already working on: recycling the unrecyclable, ending bullying, helping others see, advocating for girls to receive the same education as boys, and the list continues. Kids are already changing the world. Let’s call our kids to join others by taking action. A challenge to change the world is the foundation of this unit.
Don’t Wait for the World to Change challenges students to identify problems, suggest ideas, and influence others. Our students could change the world with their ideas.
Project Role: School leaders are searching for ideas that kids have to change the world. Write an informational proposal that advises leaders about a current problem and a suggestion for solving it.
Essential Question: What change is needed in our world?
Quick Look: Read The City of Ember, Investigate Vocabulary, Record Annotations, Extend the Story, Write and Present an Informational Proposal
Click here to access the unit:
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*Article: “Leadership and children.” PennState Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/tip-pages/all/leadership-and-children. Accessed 20 Dec 2022.