Welcome the students into your classroom as you introduce the lesson topic. Superheroes always seem to capture everyone’s imagination. Whether in films or other venues, the idea of someone good and powerful being able to rescue those in need is something that really appeals to people.
- Do any of you have a favorite superhero from fiction? Who is it, and why are they your favorite? (Allow a few students to share, but don’t spend a lot of time on this.)
Watching superheroes rescue people in fiction is exciting, but it reminds us of rescues that happen in real life as well. One example of this includes the people delivering aid to victims of war, including the current war in Gaza. Many U.S. troops will be delivering aid to people in Gaza, where many people are facing starvation in the midst of war.
Play the following video for your students [1:27; stop at 1:13]:
US to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza
Delivering aid to people in need is heroic. Of course, not every instance of helping other people is quite as exciting or high stakes as helping people in a war. Rescue can come in many different shapes and sizes.
- Have you ever been in a difficult position where you needed help? What did your rescue look like? (Answers can include big challenges or small ones. Help your students to see that someone helping them study for a big test, or stepping in to help them not feel embarrassed in a situation is a form of rescue.)
- When are times you have been able to rescue someone else who needed your help? What happened? (Answers will vary; be prepared to share your own experience.)
The men we are going to talk about today were really in need of a dramatic rescue. Let’s find out why and see what happened.
