Definition:

To be hopeful means to believe that something good can happen, even when it doesn’t look like it, or when it turns out differently than expected.

In short:

Believe that something good can happen.

Summary:
Children will enjoy the photographs that illustrate the beautiful words about hope that are found in this book. “Sometimes hope feels far away, but hope is always there.” Hope appears when we are able to feel our emotions of sadness, fear, or anger, and share them with those who love and understand us. We experience hope when we are cared for, when we can find happiness in simple things, when we are able to do things we didn’t think we couldn’t. “Hope is a heart that is open to the world around you.” 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Students will be able to demonstrate comprehension of what it means to have hope as they share examples from their own lives that resemble the ones in this book. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. Hope makes you feel happy. Does hope seem far away when you are sad or mad? 
2. Does getting a hug from someone who loves you make you feel better when you don’t feel hopeful? Next time you feel upset, ask for a hug if that usually makes you feel better. 
3. When you are scared or angry, does it help when you can talk about it with someone who understands you? 
4. Who can you ask for help when you need it? 
5. Do you think other kids feel lonely sometimes? If yes, how do you know and what one thing you could do to show you care? 
6. “Hope is knowing that things change.” Share about a time when you had a hard day but things got better.
7. Share about a time when you were trying to learn something and it was difficult but you didn’t give up. 
8. Ask your parents or someone in your family to share about a time when they didn’t have hope, but things turned out okay in the end. 
9. Draw a picture of the things that make you happy. 
10. Share about a movie or book you’ve read in which one of the characters was in a difficult situation, but eventually was able to get through it.