Going Places...thinking outside the box

This morning, as I reached the school library, I peeked into my book bag and paused. I had second thoughts about the book I’d planned to read to my younger elementary students. A few of them had just moved up from primary and were still settling into our library sessions and the book I chose, rich in metaphors, suddenly felt a bit too complex.

As I wandered through the shelves, a book caught my eye...one I’d never read aloud before, but somehow, it just fit. It tied in beautifully with the theme I’ve been working on: how books give us wings, take us on journeys, and spark our imaginations.

I began the session by pointing to a chart on the pin-up board: “Reading is a ticket to adventures.” The hot air balloons on the board echoed the spirit of the story we were about to dive into.

When I held up the cover of Going Places by Peter and Paul Reynolds, the children immediately leaned in. An airplane… with wheels? Was it a car? A plane? A short diversion into flaps, rudders, landing gear, and turbulence — and then we soared into the story.

Going Places features two elementary school students who participate in a school-wide 

go-cart building and racing contest. 

Each student in the class gets an identical kit, including Raphael, who sets out to follow the instructions provided to build his vehicle. 

But Maya, his classmate, and neighbour, is inspired by things in motion and nature. She decides to invent an entirely different kind of vehicle.

The “4Cs” – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity are all at play here.  These four skills are cited by industry as fundamental to innovation and invention. They are the kind of skills that they look for in prospective employees.  

As we read the story, we flew on the wings of imagination, celebrated creative thinking, and discovered the power of teamwork.

This is the kind of story that makes children sit up taller, crane their necks to catch the illustrations and smile wide before I even reach the last page. “Wow!! That was a really good book,” one of them whispered, eyes shining.

And I was reminded: sometimes, as an educator, it’s okay to pause, reassess, and follow your gut. In these first few sessions after a long summer break, it’s all about rekindling their love for reading — and Going Places sealed the deal.

As an educator, I felt the story could be a metaphor for our popular education systems that far too often rely on prepackaged, unimaginative lesson plans and one-dimensional assessments instead of encouraging critical thinking, offering space for engagement, the freedom of expression, and creativity.

I’m glad that I had the space to make a change in my plan allowing me the freedom to choose a book that worked perfectlyfor theme and what I hoped the children will dwell upon...the power of our imagination, and how reading it the secret to developing this superpower. 

SEL Competencies: Self-awareness, Responsible decision making