Definition:

Courage is being willing to face something hard or scary, like trying to do something you’ve never done before. 

In a nutshell: Do good, try hard even when it’s scary.

Summary:

“Some days when everything around you seems scary, you have to be brave.” On the first page of this book, a girl stands in an empty room, as her family prepares to move somewhere far away. Facing the unknown requires her to think about what it means to be brave. She discovers that she can close her eyes, breathe, and find the spark of courage inside of her.

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Students will remember this story and be empowered when they need to be brave. 
2. The teacher will guide a discussion about common fears that children this age experience. 
3.  Students will practice deep breathing while using their imaginations to access their own spark of bravery. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. On the first page, there is an empty room. If you didn't already know the story, would you guess that the girl's family is moving, or something else?
2. How does she feel about the move? 
3. What do you think she’ll be missing? 
4. What are some other things she talks about that require her to be brave? 
5. The light inside of her isn’t a real light - what do you think the light represents? 
6. “Think about what you’re good at, something you love, or someone who loves you” - why do you think this helps her grow her courage?  
7. When she arrived at her new home, she had a big smile on her face. What helped her turn her fears into hope and happiness? 
8. What are you good at, what is something you love, and who is someone you love? After you answer these questions, how do you feel? 
9. Have you ever moved with your family to a new place? What was it like for you? If you haven’t, share about what you imagine it would be like.
10. Ask a family member to share about a time they had to move to a new place.