The Fourth Grade Plan: Trusting God Even When Things Are Out Of Our Control
Walking Together Series
What’s inside...
Levi is a fourth grader who loves to have everything planned out, but this year things start to change beyond his control. His parents are getting divorced and school feels different, leaving him to question whether he can trust God when things aren’t going as planned. This book provides an accessible tool for children and their parents to navigate through the pain and disappointment of divorce, emphasizing that God can be trusted even when things seem out of control. It includes testimonies from Mike Ashcraft, Stuart Halls, and Chris Sasser, highlighting its value as a resource for families facing tough conversations and real-life challenges.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-13
Length
79 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the characters in 'The Fourth Grade Plan' show trust in situations where they felt out of control?
Can you think of a time when you had to trust someone else, like the characters did? What happened?
What does trusting God mean to you after reading this book?
How do the characters change from the beginning to the end of the story? What causes these changes?
Why do you think it's important to have faith during difficult times?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own life experiences; this promotes empathy and personal growth.
Discuss the character's emotions and reactions in the book to help your child understand different perspectives.
Use pauses after asking questions to give your child time to think and articulate their thoughts.
Validate your child's feelings and thoughts as they express them, ensuring a safe space for open communication.
Highlight moments in the book where characters show resilience and faith, and ask your child how they might apply these qualities in their own challenges.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Trust in Challenging Times
Explanation: In 'The Fourth Grade Plan', the protagonist faces unexpected challenges that are out of their control, teaching children the importance of trusting in a higher power or in the values instilled by their families during difficult times.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to remain calm and hopeful during situations such as moving to a new school or dealing with family issues, relying on their faith or core values as a guide.
Example Lesson: Resilience and Adaptability
Explanation: Throughout the book, the characters encounter situations that disrupt their initial plans, which underscores the importance of being resilient and adaptable when facing new challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can use this insight by adapting to changes with a positive attitude, whether it's adjusting to a new grade level or facing unexpected events in their daily routines.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: As characters in the story interact with others facing their own struggles, it highlights the need for empathy and understanding towards everyone's unique situations.
Real-World Application: This can be mirrored in a child's interaction with classmates and friends, teaching them to be considerate and supportive in understanding different perspectives and hardships.
Example Lesson: The Power of Friendship
Explanation: The protagonist and their friends come together to navigate their fourth-grade year, demonstrating how camaraderie and cooperation can make overcoming obstacles easier and more rewarding.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to value and nurture friendships, understanding that collective effort and emotional support can help solve problems and enhance personal growth.
Example Lesson: Maintaining Hope and Positive Thinking
Explanation: The narrative encourages maintaining a hopeful outlook despite difficulties, emphasizing the impact of positivity on personal and collective well-being.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to keep a positive perspective in their own lives, which can help them through academic challenges, personal conflicts, or during competitive activities like sports or contests.