- 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 two weeks, you’ve probably heard reference to the 2020 Olympic Games—postponed from last year due to the pandemic. 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. Preparing for the Olympics isn’t seen as just individual training, but rather getting ready as a team. In preparation for the Olympics, the USA Swim Team was offered the opportunity to train in Hawaii because the time zone was a lot closer to Tokyo time—the location of the games.
Please play this video clip [1:09].
USA Swim given unique opportunity to train in Hawaii ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics
- 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.
