📖

My Response to Sarah

Resolution and Response to Sarah, Plain and Tall

Day 69of 180
Week 14of 36
35Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Write a literary response essay with text evidence

2

Identify and analyze a theme from Sarah, Plain and Tall

3

Use graphic organizers to plan writing

4

Practice supporting ideas with specific book details

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 18:24

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

— Proverbs 18:24 (WEB)

Connects to the book's theme of family and belonging, showing how relationships matter

📦 Materials Needed

  • Sarah, Plain and Tall book
  • Theme graphic organizer
  • Essay planning worksheet
  • Pencils
  • Colored pencils or markers
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and review the week's themes of family, change, and belonging from Sarah, Plain and Tall. Remind students of the different themes we've discussed this week.

💭 Review Question: What theme in the book touched your heart the most?
2Teaching (10 min)

Model how to complete the essay planning worksheet by choosing a theme and finding specific examples from the book.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Choose one theme: family, belonging, or change
  • Find 2-3 specific examples from the text
  • Write about how these examples show the theme
  • Use your own words to explain the theme's importance
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Which character shows the most change in the story?
  • How do characters show love for each other?
  • What makes a family special?
3Activity: Literary Response Essay (15 min)
writing

Students will complete their essay planning worksheet and begin drafting a short response essay about their chosen theme.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Choose a theme from the book
  2. Fill out graphic organizer with evidence
  3. Write a draft of your essay
  4. Underline text evidence in a different color
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Provide sentence starters and more guidance

Challenge: Add a creative element like an illustration or dialogue

4Closing (5 min)

Share one interesting insight from their essays and reflect on the book's themes.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about families?
  • How do characters show love?
  • Why are changes sometimes good?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for showing us how love can bring families together. Help us to be kind and understanding like the characters in our story. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll celebrate Prairie Life with creative projects about Sarah, Plain and Tall!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 18:24

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

— Proverbs 18:24 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Friend Chain: Students link hands to visualize the verse's meaning about close relationships

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Students are analyzing themes in literature and learning to support their ideas with textual evidence.

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage specific examples from the text
  • Help child understand the difference between summary and analysis
  • Praise effort in finding meaningful connections
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it challenging to move beyond plot summary to true theme analysis.

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Evidence of understanding themes beyond literal story events

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a character map showing emotional journeys
  • Write a letter from Sarah to her family back home
  • Draw an illustration representing the book's main theme

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 70 →Back to Literature