Lesson eleven - Grace Darling to the rescue (pages 22-23)

Text from the book

Who do you go to when you are afraid? Christians believe that Jesus is like an anchor in a storm.

Learning Objectives

Pupils will:

• know and be able to re-tell the story of Grace Darling
• explore the concepts of courage, selflessness and conviction

Background

Some journeys need incredible courage. Death may be just around the corner, but that simply pushes people on. They may feel at the end of their tether, but they can still carry on; they have a sense of achievement and a sense of hope. Christians believe that Jesus gives them hope in this life and in the life to come. Jesus is the light of the world who lights their way. He is a strong anchor and point of reference in the journey of their lives. The anchor was a symbol used by early Christians to illustrate their faith. The story of Grace Darling in the nineteenth-century is a classic tale of courage, selflessness and conviction.

Ways of using the picture

• Who, or what, encourages the pupils when they are feeling down?
• Who is the strong person, the point of reference in their lives?
• Does light bring hope? Why do pupils think Christians use the image of light to refer to Jesus?

Bible reference

John 8.12, Psalm 27.1-5

Key words

• Grace Darling
• Courage
• Brave
• Rescue
• Conviction
• Selflessness
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Terror
• Strength
• Effort

Activities

You will need

Paper
Pens
Journal/Diary

Show pupils the picture and ask them what they think is happening. Who are the people? Where are they going? How are they feeling? Why are they out in such rough conditions? Ask pupils to use their imagination and extend the picture to draw what they think is happening around the picture in the book.

Depending on the age of the pupils, either tell them the story of Grace Darling or ask them to research and find out about the story.

Discuss the story and explore with the pupils why they think Grace Darling risked her life to rescue the sailors. What made her behave like that? How do they think she felt? How do they think the sailors felt?

Using the story and the pupils’ feelings, ask them to write a poem about Grace Darling and the rescue. Grace Darling showed incredible courage and conviction. Discuss ‘courage’ with the pupils, exploring the different types of courage (such as rescuing sailors compared with being brave at the hospital). Give pupils the challenge of writing about a time when they themselves had to be courageous or brave. This could be presented in diary form.

Assessment opportunities

Pupils have:

• used their writing and literacy skill to demonstrate understanding;
• have explored the historical situation at the time of Grace darling;
• have used cross curricular skills.

Learning outcomes

Pupils will:

• know the story of Grace Darling;
• have developed a greater understanding of the concepts of courage and conviction;
• have reflected upon their own experiences of being courageous and brave.

Extension work

Give the pupils the challenge of finding out about other ‘heroes and heroines’ who have shown great courage. Then write big books about them so they can be shared with younger pupils.

In groups, create short role-plays showing a variety of situations where people, including them, are being brave.

Write a story to show the drama and excitement involved alongside the courage and fearlessness shown by Grace Darling and the others in the story.

Web site links

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/vg/famous.html
'Born at Bamburgh, Grace Darling's fame is due to one act of courage when with her father, lighthouse keeper William Darling, she rescued the survivors of the shipwrecked SS Forfarshire on 7 September 1838.' This site, that focuses on famous Northumbrians, also has details of the Grace Darling museum.

http://www.amazeworld.com/
An amazing site for children to explore, including a race to rescue Cinderella from a weird maze and a game to find a hidden password to stop an alien invasion. Key Stage 2 children will love this one.

http://www.thirteen.org/savageseas/index.html
Explore this site and discover facts about tsunamis, storms and some brave rescues from the savage seas. Includes information about the Coast Guard, icebergs, cyclones and much more.

© Alan Brown and Alison Seaman, 2002

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