New Connections to Old Stories

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15-16

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will learn that God looks at people’s potential differently than society.
  • Students will learn the story of Samuel anointing David to become king and replace Saul.
  • Students will learn how to make meaningful text-to-self connections by writing to compare their lives to David’s.  

Guiding Question: How can we relate to characters in stories that were written long ago in a different place and time?

Materials: blank paper, pens, glue sticks

Procedure: Review the story of David being anointed king. Emphasize that he did not have the characteristics that most people would have expected for a king. Discuss David’s character traits: He was humble, shepherd, youngest brother, faithful to God, musical, played the harp.

Have students trace a 4×6 inch rectangle in the center of a blank piece of construction paper. They draw a picture of themselves in that rectangle. Then take another piece of paper that is 4×6 inches and fold over about an inch to create a flap. Cover the drawn rectangle with the 4×6 inch piece of paper. Glue down the flap so that it opens to reveal the picture. On the top of this piece of paper have students draw a picture of David. They can pull back the picture of themselves to reveal their picture of David. In the space around the pictures have students write ways that they are similar to David or parts of the story that they connected to personally.

Explain to students that they do not have to be exactly like David. For example, even if the student does not play the harp, they might write that they both enjoy music. Even if they are not a shepherd, they might write that they own animals or work on a farm. Other examples are: young boy, youngest sibling, brother, devoted to God, brave, faithful, enjoy serving others, adventurous, they were elected/chose to lead something, they were called to do a challenging project that they did not expect, etc. Give students time to discuss their connections to David. Share times when you were called to do something unexpectedly and let students share as well.

Additional Questions:

  • How do you think that you would have reacted if you were David at the time?
  • What do you think David would have been like if he lived today?
  • How are you different than David?

Supplemental Activity: Have students research the lifestyle that David would have lived. Students then write 1-3 paragraphs describing how life was similar and different than their lives today.

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