LESSON 37: OVERCOMING STRUGGLES
THEME: Life Application
VOCABULARY: struggles, shy, quiet, inseparable, overcome
STORY: There is a girl. Her name is Samarah. She is 10 years old. She is a happy little girl but she struggles with being shy. It is hard for her to talk to people because she is so shy. It is also hard for Samarah to make friends. She struggles with making friends because she doesn’t know how to get past being so quiet around everyone. One day she decided that she really wanted to overcome being shy. She knew that if she tried hard enough she could do it. Every day she went to school and tried to be brave enough to talk to someone. But she realized she couldn’t do it on her own. She decided to ask the Lord for help. She prayed every day for a week. Every day she would ask the Lord for a nice friend. She wanted to meet someone who could understand that she struggled with being shy and that it isn’t always easy for her to talk to people. After a week of praying, a new student showed up at the school. The girl came right up to Samarah and started asking her questions. After a few days, the girls were inseparable. Samarah prayed to God and thanked Him for bringing her someone so nice and so caring. She now had a friend to play with at school and she no longer had to be lonely. Her new friend was even helping her become more comfortable with talking to people.
STORY WITH QUESTIONS: There is a girl. (Is there a boy or a girl?) Her name is Samarah. (What is her name?) She is 10 years old. (How old is she?) She is a happy little girl but she struggles with being shy. (What does she struggle with?) It is hard for her to talk to people because she is so shy. (What is it hard for her to do?) It is also hard for Samarah to make friends. (Is it easy for her to make friends?) She struggles with making friends because she doesn’t know how to get past being so quiet around everyone. (Is she loud or quiet around others?) One day she decided that she really wanted to overcome being shy. (What did she want to do?) She knew that if she tried hard enough she could do it. (Does she think she can do it alone?) Every day she went to school and tried to be brave enough to talk to someone. (What did she try to do every day at school?) But she realized she couldn’t do it on her own. (Could she overcome being shy on her own?) She decided to ask the Lord for help. (Who did she ask for help?) She prayed every day for a week. (What did she do every day?) Every day she would ask the Lord for a nice friend. (What did she ask the Lord for?) She wanted to meet someone who could understand that she struggled with being shy and that it isn’t always easy for her to talk to people. After a week of praying, a new student showed up at the school. (Who showed up to the school?) The girl came right up to Samarah and started asking her questions. (What did the girl start doing?) After a few days, the girls were inseparable. (Did they become good friends?) Samarah prayed to God and thanked Him for bringing her someone so nice and so caring. (Who helped Samarah?) She now had a friend to play with at school and she no longer had to be lonely. (Is she lonely now?) Her new friend was even helping her become more comfortable with talking to people. (Is she able to talk to more people now?)
ACTIVITIES:
- Review the vocabulary words. Listen to the Vocabulary File for pronunciation. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know.
- Listen to Audio 1 as you read through the story.
- Listen to Audio 2 – Story with Questions as you read through the story and answer the questions.
- Discuss the main theme
- How do we overcome struggles?
- Who helps us? (allow the students to discuss different ideas)
- Draw a picture or write about a time when you overcame a struggle.
- Play “Tug of War” if there is time.
- Have a student pray in English.