📖

What Makes a Family?

Resolution and Response to Sarah, Plain and Tall

Day 67of 180
Week 14of 36
30Minutes
← Day 66Day 67 of 180Day 68
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Identify the theme of family and belonging in Sarah, Plain and Tall

2

Understand how families can be formed through love and choice

3

Discuss how God creates families in different ways

Psalm 68:6

God sets the solitary in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Psalm 68:6 (WEB)

Demonstrates that families are created by love, not just biology

📦 Materials Needed

  • Sarah, Plain and Tall book
  • Theme graphic organizer
  • Colored pencils
  • Notebook

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and ask them to share what makes a family special to them. Explain that families can look different, but love is what truly matters.

💭 Review Question: What do you think makes a family?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explore the theme of family in Sarah, Plain and Tall by discussing how Sarah becomes part of the family through love and choice.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • How Sarah chooses to join the family
  • The ways the children and Papa welcome Sarah
  • Similarities between chosen family and biological family
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How does Sarah show she wants to be part of the family?
  • What does Papa do to help Sarah feel welcome?
  • How might God view families?
3Activity: Family Love Graphic Organizer (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a graphic organizer showing how love creates family in the story.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a heart in the center of the page
  2. Write 'Family' in the heart
  3. Draw lines showing examples of love from the book
  4. Use different colors to represent different types of love
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Draw pictures instead of writing words

Challenge: Include Bible verses about love and family

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how families are formed through love and God's plan

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about families today?
  • How can we show love to our family?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for creating families and showing us how to love one another. Help us to see family as a blessing from you. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how characters change and grow in the story

Psalm 68:6

God sets the solitary in families.

Psalm 68:6 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Family Tree Hand Tracing

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson explores the concept of family beyond biological connections

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage open discussion about different family structures
  • Validate students' personal family experiences
  • Emphasize God's love as the foundation of family
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some students might have complex family situations

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Empathy and understanding about different family experiences

Extension Activities

  • Draw a picture of your family showing different ways of showing love
  • Write a short story about a family coming together
  • Interview a family member about their family story

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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