📖

Helen Keller: Overcoming Challenges

More American Heroes

Day 44of 180
Week 9of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand Helen Keller's life challenges

2

Learn about perseverance

3

Recognize God's ability to help us overcome difficulties

📖 Scripture Connection

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

— Philippians 4:13 (WEB)

Helen Keller's life demonstrates how God gives strength to overcome challenges

📦 Materials Needed

  • Picture book about Helen Keller
  • Blindfold
  • Drawing paper
  • Crayons
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and explain we'll learn about a special hero named Helen Keller who overcame big challenges

💭 Review Question: What makes someone a hero?
2Teaching (10 min)

Tell Helen Keller's story of being blind and deaf, but learning to communicate and help others

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Helen couldn't see or hear when she was young
  • Her teacher Anne Sullivan helped her learn
  • She learned to read, write, and communicate
  • She helped other people with disabilities
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do you think Helen felt when she couldn't communicate?
  • What made her special?
3Activity: Walk in Helen's Shoes (7 min)
hands-on

Experience communication challenges with a blindfold activity

📝 Instructions:
  1. Put on a blindfold
  2. Try to draw a picture
  3. Try to communicate with a partner
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Short blindfold time with helper

Challenge: Longer blindfold experience with more complex task

4Closing (3 min)

Remind students that God helps us through difficult times

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did Helen Keller teach us?
  • How can we be brave like Helen?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us be brave like Helen Keller. Help us remember that with Your help, we can do amazing things.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll review all our American Heroes!

💎 Memory Verse

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

— Philippians 4:13 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Hand motions with each word

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Helen Keller overcame significant disabilities to become a worldwide inspiration

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle, age-appropriate language
  • Emphasize Helen's courage and determination
  • Connect her story to God's love
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find disability concepts confusing

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Empathy and understanding about different abilities

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research more about Helen Keller's life
  • Learn basic sign language
  • Draw a picture inspired by Helen's story

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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