Objective

By the end of these lessons, the student will be able to understand the themes of courage and overcoming fears through the story of Jabari Jumps, express their feelings about the story through art, and connect these themes to their own experiences in a fun and engaging way.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Access to the picture book Jabari Jumps
• A comfortable space for reading and creating art

Before the lesson, read the book Jabari Jumps with the student. Discuss the main events and characters briefly to refresh their memory.

Activities

• Draw Jabari's Jump:

  After reading the story, have the student draw a picture of Jabari preparing to jump off the diving board. Encourage them to think about what Jabari might be feeling at that moment.

• Write a Letter to Jabari:

  Ask the student to write a letter to Jabari, giving him advice on how to be brave. They can also share a time when they felt scared but did something brave.

• Act It Out:

  Let the student act out the story, pretending to be Jabari. They can jump off a safe surface (like a sofa or bed) and express their feelings before and after the jump.

• Make a Courage Collage:

  Using paper and colored pencils, have the student create a collage of things that make them feel brave. They can draw or write about their favorite activities that require courage.

• Discussion Circle:

  Have a discussion about the importance of courage. Ask the student to share their thoughts on why it's important to face fears and how Jabari showed courage.

Talking Points

• "What do you think Jabari was feeling when he was at the diving board?"
• "Can you think of a time when you were scared to do something? What did you do?"
• "Why do you think it’s important to be brave sometimes?"
• "What do you like about Jabari's story? What was your favorite part?"
• "How can we show courage in our everyday lives?"
• "What do you think Jabari learned by the end of the story?"
• "If you could tell Jabari one thing, what would it be?"