📖

Friendship That Changes Us

Bridge to Terabithia - Friendship and Imagination

Day 39of 180
Week 8of 36
35Minutes
← Day 38Day 39 of 180Day 40
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Analyze how friendships can positively transform personal growth

2

Understand character development in realistic fiction

3

Explore biblical principles of friendship and mutual encouragement

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17 (WEB)

Demonstrates how true friendship helps us grow and improve

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bridge to Terabithia book
  • Character development worksheet
  • Colored pencils
  • Reading journal

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Discuss how friends can help us become better versions of ourselves. Ask students to share examples of friends who have encouraged them.

💭 Review Question: How can a good friend help you grow?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explore how Leslie influences Jess's personal growth in Bridge to Terabithia, highlighting her impact on his confidence, creativity, and perspective.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Leslie helps Jess see beyond his current circumstances
  • Imagination can be a powerful tool for personal transformation
  • True friendship involves mutual encouragement
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How does Leslie change Jess's view of himself?
  • What qualities make Leslie a good friend?
  • How can we be encouraging friends to others?
3Activity: Friendship Character Map (12 min)
hands-on

Students create a visual representation of how Jess changes through his friendship with Leslie

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw Jess before meeting Leslie on one side of paper
  2. Draw Jess after becoming friends with Leslie on other side
  3. Use colors and symbols to represent changes
  4. Write specific examples of personal growth
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn outline with guidance

Challenge: Include biblical principles of friendship in character map

4Closing (8 min)

Reflect on the power of positive friendships and how God can use relationships to help us grow.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about friendship today?
  • How can you be a friend who encourages others?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving us friends who help us become more like You. Help us be kind and encouraging to others.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore more about how imagination can be a gift from God

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Partner verse memorization with hand motions

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Students are exploring character development through friendship in literature

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage discussions about positive friendships
  • Help child understand emotional growth
  • Discuss biblical principles of friendship
🤔 Common Struggles:

Understanding nuanced character changes in literature

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to identify personal growth and transformation

Extension Activities

  • Write a journal entry from Jess's perspective
  • Create a friendship code based on biblical principles
  • Draw additional scenes showing Jess and Leslie's friendship

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 40Back to Literature