Grade 6

Making Your Voice Heard

What is the story that only you can tell?

The hidden power of smiling

Source: TED

Your smile can predict how long you live. Would you believe it? Listen to one man give voice to his theory about smiling.

Detroit woman wants to play in the NFL. Here’s why you shouldn’t doubt her

Source: Detroit Free Press

Toni Harris has battled many adversities to become the first female to receive a full football scholarship, but doesn’t plan to stop there.

In this California classroom, students teach each other their home languages— and learn acceptance

Source: PRI

Listen to students learning each other’s languages to build acceptance in class.

From Activist to Author: How 12-Year-Old Marley Dias Is Changing the Face of Children’s Literature

Source: Forbes

This girl didn’t like what she was seeing—or not seeing—on bookshelves. She organized and spoke out to see more characters like her and other under-represented groups in books throughout the country.

Behold, the power of a good idea!

Source: Student Council Pro

If you attend a school with a Student Council, consider getting involved! Here are some ways to make a big impact in student government.

Art + Technology = New Art Forms, Not Just New Art

Source: Make: Magazine

Maybe you’ve always wanted to express yourself through art but didn’t feel talented enough. No problem! Technology isn’t just a shortcut to creating art; it’s the basis of whole new forms of art that you can explore.

What Does it Mean To Be Human?

Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

From cave paintings to the first written words, human beings have been making themselves “heard” for a very long time. This section of the Museum of Natural History’s website provides a quick tour of how our use of language and symbols has grown over many, many centuries.

Students explore fashion, promote self expression through clothing

Source: The Oracle (Glenbrook South High School)

Read about how a high school student turned her interest in fashion into a club that helps students express themselves.

How To Fight—and How Not To

Source: Psychology Today

When you find yourself disagreeing with a friend or family member, the best approach may be to make your voice heard, but don’t try to win.

Top 10 skills children learn from the arts

Source: The Washington Post

The arts don’t just allow you to express yourself and earn applause. Read about some of the many other benefits of creating and performing.

Nouns Slow Down Our Speech

Source: Phys.org

A surprising quirk found across many languages makes it a little bit harder to express yourself.

A 12-year-old app developer

Source: TED

Kids today have access to a form of expression their parents didn’t: developing digital games and apps. Hear from one young developer about how he accomplished his initial goal and what’s next.

Cesar Chavez

Source: Biography

Labor organizer Cesar Chavez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for working to improve working and living conditions for migrant farm workers. Learn how he found the courage to speak out, organize a farm workers’ union, and lead nonviolent marches and boycotts of California table grape growers.

The Power of Journaling

Source: Soroptomist International of the Americas

Find out about the benefits of expressing yourself in writing, and get tips on how to get started on your own journal and get the most out of it.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas, “Mother of the Everglades”

Source: Oh, Ranger!

Read about how one dedicated voice turned the view of Florida’s Everglades from negative to positive.

This ASL interpreter steals the show at rap concerts

Source: USA Today

Until recently, the self-expression afforded by rap and hip-hop performances was unavailable to deaf audiences. With energetic and expressive sign language interpreters taking the stage along with the artists, that is changing.