Give a Goat by Jan West Schrock is the true story of a fifth grade class inspired by a read aloud to do something to make a difference. Mrs. Rowell, a fifth grade teacher, decides to read aloud the book Beatrice's Goat, to her class. The book was about a girl named Beatrice who lived in Uganda and was too poor to go to school. One day visitors came to the village where Beatrice lived and gave her family a goat. The goat made milk and Beatrice would sell the extra milk that the goat made until one day the family had enough money to send Beatrice to school.
Beatrice's story inspired Mrs. Rowell's class to want to give a goat! The story then goes on to tell about how Mrs. Rowell's class worked together to research and come up with a plan to raise money to give a goat through Heifer International. The plan the class came up with was to sell healthy snacks to the teachers and students. The book goes into detail about all the work the class had to do to make this happen (if you are a teacher it even talks a little about the cross-curricular connections!). By the end of the month they had made a profit of $180. That was "enough to buy a goat, a flock of chickens and some ducks." What a difference this class made and it was all inspired by a read aloud from their teacher!
Here are a couple of more quote I like from the book:
"Imagine, a whole bunch of children could go to school because of our math project!"
"But I felt good knowing sometimes a little gift can make a big difference. After all, our class had made a difference for three families just by selling snacks. I really like the idea that if we helped one family, they would be able to help another family, then another family, and then another family, in a long chain of passing on the gift."
So what will you do to make a difference today? If nothing else snuggle up and read a book with a child!
Happy Reading!
Laura
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