📖

Will She Stay or Go?

Sarah's Arrival and Adjustment

Day 63of 180
Week 13of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify the central conflict in 'Sarah, Plain and Tall'

2

Analyze characters' motivations and emotions

3

Understand how God provides comfort in uncertain situations

📖 Scripture Connection

Psalm 34:8

“Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

— Psalm 34:8 (WEB)

Just as Sarah is learning to trust her new family, we can learn to trust God in new situations

📦 Materials Needed

  • Sarah, Plain and Tall book
  • Character tracking worksheet
  • Colored pencils
  • Poster board
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and review previous day's reading about Sarah's arrival on the prairie

💭 Review Question: What do you remember about Sarah's feelings about her new home?
2Teaching (10 min)

Discuss the central question of whether Sarah will stay or return to Maine

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Sarah misses her home by the sea
  • Sarah is getting to know her new family
  • The children and Papa want Sarah to stay
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What clues show Sarah might stay?
  • What makes Sarah unsure about staying?
  • How do you think the children feel about Sarah?
3Activity: Stay or Go Tracker (10 min)
hands-on

Create a visual representation of reasons Sarah might stay or leave

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a large T-chart on poster board
  2. Label one side 'Reasons to Stay', other side 'Reasons to Go'
  3. Use colored sticky notes to add reasons from the book
  4. Use different colors for Sarah's feelings, family's feelings
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-written sticky notes

Challenge: Write original reasons from personal inference

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how people adjust to new situations

📝 Review Questions:
  • What helps people feel comfortable in a new place?
  • How can we help others feel welcome?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to be brave like Sarah and trust You when things feel new and scary

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about how Sarah is adapting to prairie life

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 34:8

“Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

— Psalm 34:8 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Create hand motions to help remember the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson focuses on understanding character motivations and emotional transitions

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage empathy for Sarah's feelings
  • Help child understand adjustment takes time
  • Connect story to real-life experiences of change
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand complex emotional nuances

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to identify character emotions and motivations

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Write a letter from Sarah to her brother about her new home
  • Draw a picture of what Sarah misses about Maine
  • Create a welcome kit for someone moving to a new place

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 64 →Back to Literature