“It Only Takes One” by ‘Miss’ Emily Aronoff Teck
Track # 9 from Good Choices, Volume 1

Inspiration Text:
This modern prayer may help the facilitator of the activity be inspired to address these ideas: Wake me up, G-d; ignite my passion, fill me with outrage. Remind me that I am responsible for Your world. Don't allow me to stand idly by. Inspire me to act. Teach me to believe that I can repair some corner of this world.– Rabbi Naomi Levy

“Power of One” Writing Activity
Each of us has a role in making sure that we are all treated fairly and kindly, just like the character One in the story. What are some things you can do ? Ask students to write and discuss several of their ideas.

Examples:
• Invite someone who is alone to play with you and your friends.
• Send a card to a friend who is sick.
• Stand up when you see a person being hurt by words or by hands.

2. Select two of your ideas and use them to write a new verse for the song, “It Only Takes One” by Miss Emily. Follow this pattern, and attempt to make the first and third lines end in rhyming sounds to match the rest of the song:

It only takes one __________
To __________________________
It only takes one __________
To __________________________

For example:
It only takes one “join us”
To brighten a day
It only takes one kindness
To take pain away

3. How will you illustrate your stanza? List ideas or photos you can take or illustrations you can create. Plan a poster that can be used in a school-wide “Power of One” poster campaign or video. (When planning a video, individual students/pairs can sing their stanza as their picture is shown while the entire class sings the original chorus of the song, “It Only Takes One.”

For posters, be sure to include:
• The slogan “The Power of One”
• your stanza
• any pictures or illustrations
• other decorations

Lyrics:
It only takes one
Chance
To change a mind
It only takes one
Look
That will remind
It only takes one
Step
to lead community
It only takes one
Leader
To change history

CHORUS:
One, leads to two, two then three
One brave first step can start with me
One leads two, then three, then four
Start making healthy changes, you’ll inspire more

It only takes one
Name
to hurt a friend
It only takes one
Hug
to start amends
It only takes one
Taste
so what is new won’t be strange
It only takes one
Kid
to start a change

CHORUS

It only takes one
Love
to grow a family
It only takes one
Friend
to share community
It only takes one
Voice
to be heard out loud
It only takes one
Good deed
to start to feel proud

One, leads to two, two then three
One brave first step can start with me
One leads two, then three, then four
Start making healthy changes, you’ll inspire more
Start making healthy changes, you’ll inspire more
Start making healthy changes, you’ll inspire more
It only takes one