Definition:

Patience means having self-control, waiting and enduring when one would rather not. 

In short:

Stay calm while you wait.

Summary:
This story is from a famous book entitled “The Odyssey” written by Homer, a well-known author from Ancient Greece. Odysseus, the protagonist, has many dangerous adventures in his travels, and has to use clever strategies in order to survive and reach his destination. Opposing forces attempt to destroy him and his crew as he travels by boat near an island occupied by Sirens. The Sirens’ songs tempt sailors to steer their boats  close to the island where they crash on the rocks and perish. Odysseus crafts a plan to protect himself and the sailors from the Sirens. There are many valuable lessons in this story about the benefits of self-control and the negative consequences of impatience. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. This lesson can be linked to other subject areas, such as literature, especially mythology, and history.
2. Teachers guide students in a discussion about the word temptation, as it is portrayed in this story. This leads into a discussion about temptation as it occurs in students’ lives. This is a good opportunity to delve into the temptations of drugs, alcohol, pornography, and misuse of social media.

Guiding Questions: 

1. What warning does Odysseus receive before he boards his ship after the funeral? 
2. Who are the Sirens and why are they dangerous? 
3. What does Odysseus do to protect himself and his ship from the Sirens?
4. After the encounter with the Sirens, what is Oysseus’s next trial? 
5. What does Odysseus tell his men not to do and what are the consequences of their disobedience? 
6.  What does the word temptation mean to you? Please give examples. 
7. What do you think the author, Homer, wanted his listeners to learn from this story? 
8. Odysseus had his crewmen put wax in their ears and tie him to the mast - why did he do this and how effective was it? 
9. Share about some temptation in your life, what are its consequences, and how you can overcome it. 
10. What is the difference between negative peer pressure, when peers try to get you to do something that you shouldn’t, and positive peer pressure, when peers try to help you do something right? Give examples of this from your own experience.