William Wilberforce
Imagine living in a world where there’s so much wrong to fix! That’s how little William felt when he saw people from Africa being taken as slaves. He knew he had to help. William talked to everyone about how terrible the slave ships were. Finally, in 1807, the leaders of Great Britain agreed to stop the slave trade.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet believed that everyone has the strength to change the world. She didn’t like being told what to do just because of her skin color. In 1849, Harriet escaped to freedom and helped others do the same. Her secret path was called the Underground Railroad.
Abraham Lincoln
Abe believed in standing firm for what’s right. He saw many people working as slaves in America. When he became president, he signed a paper in 1863 that said all slaves would be free. Even though many were angry, Abe knew it was the right thing to do.
Susan B. Anthony
Susan believed that failure is impossible. She wanted to vote like the boys, but it was illegal for girls. She even got arrested for trying to vote! Susan spent her life telling people that everyone should be treated equally. In 1920, women in America finally got the right to vote.
Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi believed in peaceful change. When Great Britain wanted his people to pay for salt, he didn’t fight. Instead, in 1930, he walked 241 miles to get his own salt. This peaceful march showed many people that India should be its own country and that you don’t have to fight to make a difference.
Rosa Parks
Rosa believed in making the world a better place. She noticed that children with lighter skin got to ride the bus, while others had to walk. In 1955, a bus driver told Rosa to give up her seat. She said, “Nope,” and went to jail. Many people stopped riding the bus, and after 381 days, the rules changed.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin believed that the time is always right to do what’s right. Once, he went shoe shopping, and the owner said they only served people with darker skin in the back. Martin and his dad left the store. He gave a famous speech about treating each other kindly, saying, “I have a dream.” In 1964, leaders agreed that Martin was right.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala believed that one child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. She loved learning, but in Pakistan, some people said girls shouldn’t go to school. Malala bravely insisted that every child should have an education. In 2014, at just 17, she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
These heroes stood up to make a difference in the world. What kind of hero will you be?
Create Your Own Hero Story: Think about a problem in your community or school that you would like to change. Draw a picture of yourself as a hero working to solve this problem. Write a short story about how you would help make things better, just like William Wilberforce or Harriet Tubman did. Share your story with your classmates and discuss how everyone can be a hero in their own way.
Role-Playing Activity: With a friend or family member, choose one of the heroes from the article and act out a scene from their life. For example, you could pretend to be Rosa Parks on the bus or Gandhi on his salt march. Think about how they felt and what they might have said. Afterward, talk about why their actions were important and how they made a difference.
Everyday Hero Journal: Keep a journal for a week where you write down or draw something kind or helpful you did each day. It could be as simple as helping a friend or picking up litter. At the end of the week, look back at your journal and think about how these small actions can make a big difference, just like the heroes in the article.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any inappropriate or sensitive content while maintaining the essence of the original message:
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[Music] Courageous people who changed the world [Music]
**William Wilberforce**
It is inconceivable that we could be bored in a world with so much wrong to tackle. Little William saw people from Africa being taken as slaves; he knew he had to do something. [Music] William told everyone who would listen how bad the slave ships were. In 1807, the leaders of Great Britain finally agreed that the slave trade should end.
**Harriet Tubman**
You have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to change the world. Little Harriet did not like being told what to do, but because of her skin color, that’s exactly what happened all day long. [Music] In 1849, Harriet ran north to freedom and helped others escape too. People called her secret path the Underground Railroad. [Music]
**Abraham Lincoln**
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. Little Abe saw many people working as slaves in America; one could agree whether that was good or bad. [Music] Abe became president, and in 1863 he signed a paper that said all the slaves would be free. Many people were angry, but Abe knew it was the right thing to do. [Music]
**Susan B. Anthony**
Failure is impossible. [Music] Little Susan wanted to vote for her leaders like the boys could, but that was illegal for girls. Susan tried to vote once, but she got arrested. [Music] Susan spent her whole life telling people that everyone should be treated equally. Finally, word spread that things had to change. In 1920, women in America gained the right to vote.
**Mahatma Gandhi**
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. [Music] Little Gandhi liked working things out peacefully. [Music] When Great Britain tried to make his people pay for salt, Gandhi didn’t fight. Instead, in 1930, he walked 241 miles to the coast to get his own salt. [Music] Gandhi’s peaceful march helped thousands of people realize that India should be its own country and that you don’t have to fight to make a difference. [Music]
**Rosa Parks**
I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up, and do what we can to make this world a better place. [Music] Little Rosa noticed that children with lighter skin got to ride the bus to school, while children with darker skin had to walk to an older building. In 1955, a city bus driver told Rosa to give her seat to a man with lighter skin. [Music] “Nope,” Rosa said. She went to jail, and many people stopped riding the bus. [Music] After 381 days, the leaders decided to change the rules. [Music]
**Martin Luther King Jr.**
The time is always right to do what is right. [Music] Little Martin went shoe shopping with his dad. The owner said, “We only serve people with darker skin in the back.” They left the store instead. [Music] One day, Martin gave a speech about how we should treat each other. “I have a dream,” he said. He wanted everyone to be judged by their hearts, not by the color of their skin. In 1964, American leaders finally agreed that Martin was right.
**Malala Yousafzai**
One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world. [Music] Little Malala loved to learn, but in Pakistan, some people said girls shouldn’t go to school. Some people tried to stop her, but brave Malala didn’t back down. She insisted that every child should go to school. In 2014, when she was 17, Malala became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. [Music]
These heroes stood up to make a difference in the world. What kind of hero will you be? [Music]
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This version maintains the core messages while ensuring the content is appropriate for all audiences. If you need further modifications or additional sections sanitized, feel free to ask!
