"Whoever You Are" by Mem Fox - MSSS Lesson from Literature

"Whoever You Are" Lesson

"Whoever You Are" by Mem Fox is a wonderful story which celebrates the differences between children everywhere. The story encourages children to realise that no matter what people may be like on the outside, inside they are just like them.

It is a story which can be used to teach the concept of Jesus loving children everywhere or could be used in the Mission Spotlight section of a program for young children.

Below are some activities which could be used in conjunction with the book.

Activities to Accompany Book

Choose as many or as few activities as you feel appropriate for the group you are teaching.

Discuss -
- What are some of the things that make you special and different?
- What are some of the things that make you happy/sad/laugh/cry? (Allow children to discuss a variety of experiences and also encourage them to empathise with the experiences other children share. Help them understand that while there are things that make them different many of us feel the same way when faced with similar situations)
Read together 1 Samuel 7:16 (and Galatians 2:6, if appropriate). Discuss together how often we judge others by what we see on the outside but God judges us by what he sees in our heart.
Tell the story of Peter and his vision from Acts 10. Discuss how he learned that God loves everybody just the same.
Sing "Jesus Loves the Little Children".
Make Multi Cultural Friends from Making Friends.
Dress-up in costumes around the world.
Learn a phrase or two from another language
- Greetings Around the World
- Say Thank You
Learn more about how children live in other countries. Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley (published by DK Books) is a great resource for this.
God's Eye View - this article from Christianity Today - Parenting has many ideas for helping children discover the diversity of the world.
Become involved in projects that help children in other parts of the world.
- Sponsor a child through Asian Aid or other charitable organisation.
- Become involved in the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, a project which encourages people to fill a shoebox with Christmas presents for a needy child.