The Sweet Valley Cleanup Team (Sweet Valley Kids #27)
#27 in Sweet Valley Kids Series
on Goodreads (85)
What’s inside...
When Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield hear about the plan to turn an empty city lot into a public garden, they decide to pitch in and help, but a wealthy businessman's plans to erect a parking garage on the spot could ruin all their plans. Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield love parks, plants, and anything green. So when they hear about the plan to clean up an empty city lot and turn it into a public garden, they're happy to help. Then they learn that Mr. Patman, a rich businessman, wants to build a parking garage on the lot. Only one person can change Mr. Patman's mind—his snobby son Bruce. Can Elizabeth and Jessica win Bruce over to their side? Or will Mr. Patman build a garage over the new garden?
Discussion points
What are some ways the Sweet Valley Cleanup Team helped their community?
How did working together make a difference in the book?
Can you think of a time when you helped someone and how it made you feel?
Why is it important to keep our environment clean?
What are some things you can do to help keep our community clean?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing a personal story about a time you participated in a community service or an environmental cleanup activity.
Ask your child to draw a picture of their ideal clean community and discuss the elements in their drawing.
Suggest creating a small cleanup project at home or in your neighborhood to put the book’s themes into action.
Praise efforts of teamwork and discuss the value of working together towards a common goal, relating it to the book's story.
Encourage your child to think about how they felt after each chapter and what they would have done differently if they were a character in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: The characters in 'The Sweet Valley Cleanup Team' come together to clean up their town, demonstrating the power of working together towards a common goal.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in their community, learning to cooperate and achieve goals as a team.
Example Lesson: Responsibility towards the Environment
Explanation: The book emphasizes the importance of keeping our surroundings clean and taking care of the planet through the cleanup activities of the characters.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be instilled in children by encouraging them to be mindful of littering and participating in local environmental conservation efforts like recycling and community clean-ups.
Example Lesson: Importance of Civic Engagement
Explanation: Through the community-driven cleanup initiative, the story showcases how involvement in community activities can lead to significant positive changes.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to take initiative in their communities by being active participants in local events and understanding the impact of their contributions.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving Skills
Explanation: As the children in the story encounter various challenges during their cleanup, they must brainstorm and come up with solutions together.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills in daily situations, whether it's resolving conflicts with siblings or coming up with a project for school.