- Would you rather: Do things alone or in a group? Explain. (Answers will vary, be sure to include your own answer.)
- What activities do you enjoy pursuing with a group? Why are those things more fun in a group? (Answers may include: playing sports; putting on a play; slumber parties. Reasons why they are more fun may include that some things, such as a sports game, can’t be played without multiple people; if no one else joined you at a slumber party, you would be sleeping alone as usual; etc.)
Over the past few weeks, you’ve probably heard a lot of reference to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. While some of these sports, such as swimming, tend to focus on the individual athlete, many of the events focus on a team. You can invite students to share their favorite teams or events in the Olympics. In preparation for the Olympics, Team USA released the following promotional video. Team USA is the broad name for all the smaller teams competing for the USA in the 2024 Olympics—such as the swim team or gymnastics team. Let’s take a look.
Please play this video clip [1:00].
Team USA, One For All
Preparing for the Olympics isn’t just about individual training, but rather getting ready mentally and physically as a team. Both the broader Team USA and the individual sports teams must work together to succeed, and all members must be in peak condition and ready to compete.
- Especially in the team sports, what type of teamwork do you think is required for a team of athletes competing at such a high level? (Answers: They have to work together; no one person can do it all; they have to do individual training; trusting each other; selflessness, etc.)
- What other things can be accomplished when people work together for a common goal? (Answers may include: raising money for charity, sending people to the international space station, discovering cures for diseases, etc.)
Great things can be accomplished when we work together with others for a common cause. Men and women have founded countries with this mindset, defended countries in battle, and helped those in need—all by working together as one.
In today’s lesson we’re going to see what happens when teamwork is at its best. King Jehoshaphat and the city of Judah were in deep trouble and in need of a miracle. Was there anything the Israelite people could do together to stop their impending doom? Let’s find out.
