Loneliness and Friendship
Identify loneliness as a theme in the novel
Find textual evidence of characters experiencing loneliness
Understand how characters overcome loneliness through connection
“God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.”
— Psalm 68:6 (WEB)Shows God's heart for those who feel alone and His desire to connect people
Read Psalm 68:6 and discuss how God cares about people who feel lonely. Ask students to share a time they felt lonely.
In 'Because of Winn-Dixie', several characters experience loneliness. We'll explore how the characters feel alone and how they find connection.
Students complete a graphic organizer identifying characters' loneliness and how they overcome it
Simpler: Work in pairs to complete worksheet
Challenge: Add biblical connections for each character's journey
Share worksheet findings and reflect on God's desire for community
Dear God, help us see people who might feel lonely and show them your love through friendship.
Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how friendship develops in the story
“A man of many companions may be broken, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
— Proverbs 18:24 (WEB)🎯 Activity: Friend Chain: Students link paper chain links while repeating verse
Loneliness is a complex emotion that children often experience but struggle to articulate
Children might find it challenging to recognize subtle forms of loneliness
Ability to identify emotional experiences in characters