It is never too early, and at the same time never too late, to learn about the changemakers of our world.

A changemaker sees a problem or something that is unfair in society and takes action to solve the problem. They see and do things differently than most people do. They are motivated to act. They are motivated to bring change to society. Changemakers are genuinely motivated and have a heartfelt desire to push through obstacles and failures to make the world a better place.

Changemakers come from all parts of society. Changemakers can be anyone who is working to solve a social problem.

With their teachers Katie Sylvest and Jamie Curry, the second graders at Nederland Elementary School have been reading biographies, watching videos, and researching people who have made a positive difference in the world.

The second grade students chose from a list of people who they wanted to study more in depth. This list included, but was not limited to, inventors and scientists, political leaders, women leaders, African American heroes, and athletes.

In class they talked about the characteristics of changemakers. The students said that they were brave, curious, courageous, respectful, creative, firm and humble. We should all try to be more like these brave women and men. They also said that these people followed the rules, unless the rules were unfair. Then they had to work to change the rules.

Educators call this kind of teaching Project Based Learning (PBL). Students learned about changemakers and their characteristics and how these people have contributed to society. Then all the students came to school dressed up like the changemaker that they studied and each student gave a presentation to teach the others what they had learned.

Project Based Learning is a fancy way to say that quality learning is taking place. One student said, “It is just fun to dress up. This is great!”

The following changemakers were represented in the second grade classrooms: Cesar Chavez, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride, Susan B. Anthony, Ruby Bridges, Walt Disney, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Betsy Ross, Jane Goodall and Thomas Edison (a number of these changemakers were represented in both classrooms).

The students presented well and represented their changemaker with pride. Their excitement was palpable and the costumes creative. They had been instructed by their teachers to find an outfit at home, go to a thrift store if needed, and most of all be creative. And creative they were.

Pick up a book, get on the internet, or better yet ask a Nederland Elementary second grader what they have learned about changemakers. You can then learn more about the people who have been motivated to bring positive change to society. Let’s encourage our elementary students to be another generation of great changemakers.