Problem Solvers Saving Lives

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer:
When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.
 
We Had to Be Brave, by Deborah Hopkinson:
Ruth David was growing up in a small village in Germany when Adolf Hitler rose to power in the 1930s. Under the Nazi Party, Jewish families like Ruth's experienced rising anti-Semitic restrictions and attacks. Just going to school became dangerous. By November 1938, desperate volunteers sprang into action to organize the Kindertransport, a rescue effort to bring Jewish children to England. Young people like Ruth David had to say good-bye to their families, unsure if they'd ever be reunited. Miles from home, the Kindertransport refugees entered unrecognizable lives, where food, clothes—and, for many of them, language and religion—were startlingly new. Meanwhile, the onset of war and the Holocaust visited unimaginable horrors on loved ones left behind. Somehow, these rescued children had to learn to look forward to hope.
 
Learning Objectives:
Students will interpret, analyze, and evaluate what they read.
Students will participate in meaningful discussions, enabling them to speak clearly and effectively on numerous topics and themes found within the text.
Students will use knowledge of prefixes, root words, and suffixes to assist them in understanding vocabulary.
Students will have the opportunity to present on a theme, topic, character, setting, or idea presented in the text.
Students will identify and apply literary and informational elements to the text.
Students will analyze a text’s form of structure and comprehend word meaning and phrases.
Students will be able to evaluate a text using background information.
 
Recommended for: Ages 11+ / Grades 6-7 
Instructor: Mrs. Eve Babb
Day and Time: Wednesdays, 12:45 - 1:45 PM ET
Duration: 4 classes
Dates: April 10 - May 1, 2024
Required Materials:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer 
We Had to Be Brave, by Deborah Hopkinson 
 
Eve Babb's teaching style: hands-on activities, storytelling, problem-solving activities, group discussion, explore different cultures
 
Student & Parent Reviews:
Ms. Eve is so nice and I really like having class with her. I loved making a paper bunny and learning how to write my own story. —Johnny, student
I am so glad that my son had Mrs. Eve as a teacher. She does a wonderful job making sure all of her students get involved and she really helps her students understand the literary themes. —Evelyn, parent
She is a delightful teacher! I am so happy with everything my kid has learned from her. She does a great job making sure that every student is heard and participates. - Bethany, parent