Rebecca the Changemaker – Olivia Wood

Short Summary

Rebecca, a young Maasai girl in Kenya, learns that her family’s crops are failing because there is no rain. She discovers from her teacher and the library that the world is getting hotter due to climate change caused by pollution, cutting trees, and too much waste. Rebecca asks her classmates to teach their parents about protecting nature. Soon, the whole community becomes aware of the problem. The village elders write a letter to the President of Kenya asking for help. The President tells everyone to plant trees. Rebecca is praised at school for creating awareness, and she feels happy to help her community.

Long Summary

Rebecca was a young Maasai girl living in Southwest Kenya. Her family looked after cattle, sheep and goats, and they grew crops for food. One very hot day, Rebecca found her mother crying because their crops had failed and their animals might die. At school, Rebecca asked her teacher why there was so little rain. The teacher explained that without rain, plants cannot grow and people and animals suffer.

Rebecca went to the library to learn more. She discovered that the world is becoming hotter and there is less rain because of climate change. She learned that smoke from vehicles, cutting down trees, and burying too much waste are harming nature. Rebecca felt sad but wanted to help.

She asked her teacher to give a lesson on climate change. After the lesson, she told her classmates to teach their parents about protecting nature. Soon, the whole community was talking about the problem. The village elders decided to write a letter to the President of Kenya, asking for help. The President read the letter and asked everyone to plant trees.

Rebecca’s school thanked her for creating awareness. She felt happy and wondered what more she and her friends could do to protect nature.

Questions and Answers

1. What did Rebecca’s family do for a living?
   They kept cattle, sheep and goats and farmed the land for food.
2. Why was Rebecca’s mother sad?
   She was sad because their crops were bad and their animals might die.
3. What new information did Rebecca get from the library?
   She learned that the world is getting hotter, there is less rain, and this is called climate change.
4. What did Rebecca ask everyone in her class to do?
   She asked them to teach their parents about climate change and how humans are harming nature.
5. Why did the elders of the Maasai community write a letter to the President of Kenya?
   They wrote the letter because they needed help. They wanted the President to make rules to protect nature and bring back the rain.
6. What instructions did the President give his countrymen to save nature?
   He asked everyone to plant a tree outside their homes.
7. “We would like to thank Rebecca,” said the Principal. Why?
   Because Rebecca helped everyone learn about protecting nature and encouraged them to take action.
8. Rebecca found out several reasons for climate change. What are they?
   Smoke from cars, buses and aeroplanes. Cutting down trees. Throwing and burying lots of trash.
9. Suggest two activities to protect nature.
   Plant more trees, Reduce waste and keep the surroundings clean.

Activity 1

1. Rebecca asked her teacher why there was so little rain.
2. Trees are being cut down and used to make buildings.
3. The President asked his countrymen to plant a tree outside their homes.
4. We would like to thank Rebecca for helping everyone learn about protecting nature.

Activity 2

After the drought

Rebecca’s farm looks dry and empty. The cattle, sheep, ducks and hens are weak because there is very little food. The large brown cows no longer graze happily; they stand under the hot sun looking tired. The huge tree has lost most of its leaves, and there are no ripe fruits on it. The happy brown squirrel is gone because it cannot find food or shade. The lovely red flowers have dried up, and the farm has lost its bright colours. Everything looks dusty, brown and lifeless after many days without rain.

Activity 5

1. This …………… we did not get sufficient rain. (year/ear).
2. The boy saw a small ………… on the tree trunk. (whole/hole).
3. We need …………… to breathe in. (air/heir).
4. The country is entering a new ………… in development. (face/phase)
5. The elders decided to …………. a letter to the President of Kenya. (right/write).
6. The classroom is ………….. now. (quiet/quite)

Activity 6

1. I wake up early in the morning.
2. I brush my teeth.
3. I take a bath.
4. I eat my breakfast.
5. I go to school.
6. I listen to my teachers in class.
7. I play with my friends during break time.
8. I do my homework in the evening.
9. I help my parents at home.
10. I eat dinner with my family.
11. I read a book before sleeping.
12. I go to bed at 10:00 pm.

Activity 7

1. She is happy today. Question: Is she happy today?
2. They are ready for the trip. Question: Are they ready for the trip?
3. He is my best friend. Question: Is he my best friend?
4. We have enough time. Question: Have we enough time?
5. She has a new bicycle. Question: Has she a new bicycle?
6. You can solve this problem. Question: Can you solve this problem?
7. They will come tomorrow. Question: Will they come tomorrow?
8. I must finish my homework. Question: Must I finish my homework?
9. He may join us later. Question: May he join us later?
10. We shall meet again. Question: Shall we meet again?

Activity 8

Maasai Girl Leads Community to Protect Nature
Special Reporter

Southwest Kenya: A young Maasai girl named Rebecca has inspired her entire community to take action against climate change. Rebecca, a student who helps her family on their farm, became worried when her mother cried over their failed crops and weak animals. The long dry days and lack of rain had caused great trouble for the village.

At school, Rebecca learned from her teacher that the world is getting hotter and that this problem is called climate change. She also discovered that pollution, cutting down trees, and burying too much waste are harming nature. Wanting to help, Rebecca asked her teacher to give a lesson on climate change. After the class, she encouraged her friends to teach their parents about protecting the environment.

Soon, the whole Maasai community began discussing the issue. The village elders decided to write a letter to the President of Kenya, asking for help. The President read the letter and requested all citizens to plant trees.

Rebecca’s school thanked her for creating awareness. Her efforts have shown that even a young child can bring positive change to the world.

Conversations

Rebecca and Her Mother

• Rebecca: Mama, why are you crying?
• Mother: Our crops have failed this year, my child.
• Rebecca: Does that mean we won’t have enough food?
• Mother: Yes, and our goats and sheep may also die.
• Rebecca: Is it because there is no rain?
• Mother: Yes, the days have been too hot and dry.
• Rebecca: I will ask my teacher about this.
• Mother: That is a good idea, Rebecca.

Rebecca and Her Teacher

• Rebecca: Teacher, why is there so little rain this year?
• Teacher: We are having many days without rain.
• Rebecca: But why is the weather changing?
• Teacher: The world is getting hotter.
• Rebecca: Is this called climate change?
• Teacher: Yes, climate change affects rain and crops.
• Rebecca: I want to learn more about it.
• Teacher: You can read about it in the library.

Rebecca and Her Classmates

• Rebecca: Friends, we must tell our parents about climate change.
• Classmate 1: Why should we do that?
• Rebecca: Because nature is being harmed.
• Classmate 2: What can we do to help?
• Rebecca: First, we must spread the message.
• Classmate 3: Yes, everyone should know.
• Rebecca: Then we can work together for solutions.
• Class: We will talk to our parents today!

Rebecca and the Village Elders

• Elder 1: Rebecca, you helped us understand the problem.
• Rebecca: I only shared what I learned.
• Elder 2: We must take action now.
• Elder 1: Let us write a letter to the President.
• Rebecca: What will we tell him?
• Elder 2: That we need help to protect nature.
• Rebecca: I will show the letter to my classmates.
• Elder 1: Good. Ask their families to sign it.

Principal and Rebecca

• Principal: Rebecca, please come to the stage.
• Rebecca: Yes, sir.
• Principal: You helped the school learn about climate change.
• Rebecca: I wanted everyone to understand the problem.
• Principal: Your effort has inspired many students.
• Rebecca: That makes me happy.
• Principal: We thank you for your leadership.
• Rebecca: I will continue helping my community.