Lesson Plan: Discovering Resilience with Silly Lily

Grade Level: 1st - 3rd Grade
Subject: Reading/Health Education
Duration: 1 hour
Materials Needed: Copies of "A Silly Lily and Her Feeding Tube" book, drawing paper, crayons, markers, discussion ball (any soft, throwable object), ‘My Superhero Self’ template.

Objectives:

  • Students will understand the concept of chronic illness and resilience.

  • Students will engage in empathetic listening and sharing.

  • Students will express themselves creatively by relating personal strengths to the story.

Introduction (10 minutes):

Begin the class with a brief discussion on what it means to be unique and how everyone has their own special story, just like Silly Lily. Introduce the Silly Lily Foundation and its mission to help everyone feel included and understood, emphasizing the importance of kindness and empathy towards all friends.

Reading Activity (20 minutes):

Read "A Silly Lily and Her Feeding Tube" aloud to the class. Encourage students to listen carefully and think about how Silly Lily might be feeling throughout her journey. Pause at key moments to ask predictive and inferential questions to engage students in active listening, such as "What do you think Silly Lily will do next?" or "How do you think Silly Lily feels about her feeding tube?"

Discussion (15 minutes):

After reading, initiate a group discussion using the discussion ball. Students can pass the ball around to take turns sharing their thoughts on the following:

  • A moment in the book that made them feel strong or happy for Silly Lily.

  • How they think having a feeding tube might make daily life different.

  • A time they felt different or needed help, and what helped them feel better.

Creative Activity (15 minutes):

Distribute the ‘My Superhero Self’ template. Ask students to draw themselves as superheroes, incorporating a special power they possess that helps them overcome challenges, just like Silly Lily’s resilience and bravery. Encourage them to think beyond physical strength, considering qualities like kindness, creativity, or being a good friend.

Conclusion:

Wrap up the lesson by having a few volunteers share their superhero selves and what special power they chose. Highlight how everyone has unique qualities and challenges, but sharing and understanding each other’s stories brings us closer. Encourage students to practice empathy and kindness, inspired by Silly Lily’s story.

Follow-Up:

Consider coordinating with the Silly Lily Foundation to have students write letters or draw pictures for children receiving the books, fostering a connection and extending empathy beyond the classroom.

This lesson plan aims to not only educate students about chronic illness and resilience as shown in "A Silly Lily and Her Feeding Tube" but also to foster a classroom environment of empathy, understanding, and self-expression