Lesson Objective:
Understand the implications of being a hero
Lesson Outcome:
By the end of the lesson, the children will have read and discussed a moral dilemma and thought about the implications of being a hero.
Resources:
To Be a Hero
Al Sh’losha D’varim
Torah, Worship and Loving Deeds
Storyboard
Introduction
- Brainstorm: What is a Hero? – Children to discuss what makes a hero and what being a hero might involve. Children to think about who their heroes are and why they are their heroes.
Main Teaching
- Read and Discuss “To Be a Hero” – Read through the problem about whether to put your own life in danger to save someone else. Children to give their opinions on the matter. Discuss Jewish interpretations. Prompt by giving other examples, such as should a lifeguard dive in to save someone drowning, even if it means putting their own life at risk?
- Read (and sing) Al Sh’losha D’varim – Ask children if they recognise the song and then discuss the meaning; The world stands upon three things: On Torah, Worship and Loving Deeds. Make a list on the whiteboard to define and try to explain what these three things mean. What is Torah? What is worship? What are loving deeds? What do they mean to you?
Activity
- Option 1: Torah, Worship and Loving Deeds diagram – Children to use template to write/draw pictures about what each of the three things (Torah, Worship and Loving Deeds) means to them using the prompts from the whiteboard.
Examples could include a poem about worship, a list of loving deeds that they would like to do every week/year, what the Torah means to them.
- Option 2: Create a Storyboard – Children to design a cartoon storyboard showing a scene similar to the one in “To Be a Hero”. Children to think about the different dilemmas when faced with this problem. Annotate with Jewish and emotional interpretations.
Example: Lifeguard, mugging, burglary, bullying at school.
Plenary
- Present Diagram / Storyboard – Children to show their diagram/storyboard to the rest of the class, explaining their choices and interpretations