The Importance of Kindness: Lessons from Margaret Wise Brown's "The Important Book"

It all started with a book! The Ankara EHS Information Center Specialist, Dr. Carla Kelly, read Margaret Wise Brown to the elementary students during their Library Specials. 

Margaret Wise Brown is a beloved author known for her children's books, such as Goodnight Moon. One of her special books, The Important Book, teaches us to see the value in everyday things. It helps children understand that even simple things can be very important.

Inspired by this message, students at Ankara EHS organized a canned food drive to help refugees. They collected food that the refugees would enjoy and feel comforted by. This act of kindness showed how important it is to help others, just like the lessons in Brown's book.

The students then presented their collected food to a representative from the Vatican Church and received a certificate of appreciation. 

This event was a big moment, highlighting the students' hard work and dedication to making a positive difference. The Vatican Church representative praised the students, reminding everyone how important it is to show compassion and help those in need.

Dr. Carla Kelly asked her students to identify what they considered to be the most important thing about themselves. She provided sentence starters to guide their responses and encouraged them to give detailed answers by completing the following prompts. 

The students then shared their thoughts with each other, further reinforcing the value of understanding and appreciating each other's unique contributions.

This exercise helped students reflect on their unique qualities and highlighted the importance of kindness and giving. By recognizing and sharing what makes them special, students learned that kindness and generosity can profoundly impact others. Dr. Kelly's approach fostered a sense of empathy and community, showing students that their actions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the world.

Margaret Wise Brown's The Important Book teaches us to appreciate the simple things in life. The student's project is a perfect example of this lesson. It shows that small acts of kindness can have a big impact. By helping others, we learn that compassion and community truly matter.