What can you and I do to help children? Most of us do not have the power or money to do big things. But, we do have the ability to do small things. If we all do small things to help children caught in poverty, it will grow to become a big thing. We can influence the lives of children through hard work and determination.

 

Suggestions on how you can help:

 

1. Tell your friends and family about children living in slums. Spread the word.

 

2. Look for more books or internet sites about slums.

 

3. Write a story, a poem, a song, or draw a picture about children in slums.

 

4. Ask you teacher to assign a class project about the world’s slums.

 

5. Encourage your school and local libraries to add this book Bayani's Bridge to their collection.

 

6. Write letters to the United Nations.

 

7. Write letters to our own government officials.

 

8. Write letters to the government in the Philippines.

 

Classroom Ideas

 

Classroom Visitors

Invite international high school or college students to visit your classroom. Prepare a list of questions. Make hats to represent their country. Google their flag.

 

Map It

Find Manila on a world map. Google the distance between your home and Manila.

Discuss Global Awareness. 

How can we be responsible global citizens? What are slums? Where are slums located? Why are there Slums? How can we develop respect and compassion for people from other backgrounds? Why should we respect them?

Global Awareness Internet Site

An educational program designed to promote multi-cultural understanding.

http://www.globalawareness.aifs.com/

Bulletin Board Display

Help your teacher design a bulletin board with pictures from Bayani’s Bridge.

Draw a bridge, a city dump,  Splish the kitten, Bayani’s sister, brothers, Mother, and Papa.

 

Find articles on the world’s slums to post on the bulletin board.

 

Look Up Words

Use the dictionary to find words from the book that you did not understand.

 

Create a Word Wall

Write a word from the book on one side of the card and the definition on the back of it. Post it in your classroom.

 

Poster Board

Cut out pictures from magazines that represent the main characters in the book and post them on a poster board.

 

Drama

Reenact the Bayani’s Bridge story, or create your own story based on the book. Place pictures, representing Bayani, Nesto, Riz, Splish, Papa, Mother, Dancia, a notebook, garbage hooks, Splish’s green dish, a bridge, city dump, and a blue tub, in a paper bag. Children can work in groups to tell the story.

 

Book Report

Write a book review and report on the Bayani’s Bridge. List the title, author, illustrator, and copyright date. Tell the story in your words and describe how you would feel working in a dump and living under a bridge. Are you happy that Dancia can go to school? Why does Bayani’s family work so hard in the dump? What would you name your kitten?

 

I would love to hear your suggestions. Write or e-mail me and I will

add your ideas to this list.

 

kramerdee@gmail.com   

Dee Kramer

204 Kentucky Avenue NW

Orange City, Iowa

51041

telephone: 712-737-8281