The Construction Kid: The Big Beginning

The Construction Kid: The Big Beginning True story: a boy, a job, a passion J.G. Webb, Ph.D. G.G. Webb Sam and his friends love anything related to construction. As Sam walks to summer camp or swim practice, he feels pulled to building sites, road construction, and his favorite machines: backhoes. So, when the gas company sends Sam's family a note that a construction project is happening right in his own neighborhood, he is drawn to the site. There, in the enormous trenches of the job site, Sam meets the crew -- Scott, Ronny, and Luis who quickly become big influences in his life. Scott soon makes Sam an offical part of the crew. "If you are going to visit our job site, Construction Kid, you need a hard hat." Scott says, tossing Sam his very own Fortney Construction crew hard hat." From that moment on, Sam is hooked. As Sam learns the golden rules of trenching and teamwork from the crew , he imagines the machinery is part of the group too, hissing and beeping advice to him. Sam imagines he is friends with the backhoe, who he calls, "Buddy." As part of the crew, Sam is at the controls of the backhoe, driving it through the neighborhood.." Not even old Mrs. Finklebottom, the old lady who complains about the hubbub of the construction site, can get in the way of their big jobs. As the summer ends, the gas lines are repaired and the neighborhood is back to normal. As the vehicles, safety cones, signs, and flaggers start to disappear, Sam becomes worried and sad about saying goodbye to his crew. He knows he may never see the crew again. How can anything compete with this summer? Will he ever be truly happy again? But then Sam remembers he's about to become part of a new crew-at school and that with his crew of friends, he is bound to have more construction adventures. He recalls Buddy's advice to him, "Be the person you are meant to be, Construction Kid. Be the foreman of the class." J.G. Webb, Ph.D. has been working and writing about leadership in the corporate setting for 26 years and with her son, G.G. Webb at her side, she realized that leadership lessons in the business world can also apply to children-in a series of construction adventures. With the teachers guide, parents and teachers can use this book as a springboard for a discussion about the importance of teamwork and the basic elements of leadership. Educators can also use The Construction Kid to celebrate the magic of following your heart and interests to find your calling.