Wangari Maathai: The Story of the Hummingbird
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Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: June 11, 2026
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This 2-minute video and brief article feature Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai, who tells a metaphorical story of a hummingbird who remains persistent in the face of a great fire.
- This story is used to encourage others to continue to do the best they can, even if it feels like they are not able to make a difference.
Subjects: Social Studies
Authors: Bill Benenson, Gene Rosow
Region: Africa, Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Classroom Implementation:
- Have students listen to this story when discussing actions individuals can take to address climate change. Ask students to consider how impactful it might be if everyone did the best they could.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
- English Language Arts:
- Use this story to analyze the metaphor. Ask students to consider what the hummingbird and the great fire represent in the context of climate change.
SEL Connections:
- Use the hummingbird as a symbol to reference when students express feelings of futility surrounding climate action.
Related Resources:
- Show students this video to give them context about Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt movement.
- Pair this resource with this lesson plan, in which students explore Wangari Maathai and deforestation in Africa.
The video in this resource tells a fictional story about a hummingbird facing a large fire. The story serves as a metaphor for how a Kenyan environmental activist approaches environmental issues. Her message is that everyone can do their best to help solve a problem. This message is especially meaningful for climate and environmental issues because they can often feel overwhelming and impossible to handle, like a fire to a bird. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Kid Should See This
The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
