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. In the last year, emergency response workers have helped countless people during the pandemic. They’ve risked their own health and wellbeing to care for other people. That’s heroic!
Of course, not every instance of helping other people in the world is quite as exciting or high stakes as helping people in a pandemic. 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.
