## Lesson Plan: Deborah and Barak Lead Their People to Freedom
### Subject: Christian Religious Studies
### Grade: Junior Secondary 1
### Duration: 50 minutes
### Topic: Deborah and Barak Lead Their People to Freedom
---
### Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
1. Identify the key characters in the story of Deborah and Barak from the Book of Judges.
2. Understand the significance of Deborah's and Barak's leadership.
3. Discuss the moral and spiritual lessons derived from their story.
4. Apply the lessons from the story to contemporary life situations.
---
### Materials:
- Bible (Book of Judges, Chapters 4-5)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector or smartboard (if available)
- Worksheets/handouts
- Notebooks and pens
---
### Lesson Outline:
1. **Introduction (10 minutes)**
- Greet the students and start with a short prayer.
- Introduce the topic for the day: "Deborah and Barak Lead Their People to Freedom."
- Briefly explain the context of the Book of Judges—an era in Israelite history characterized by cycles of sin, oppression, deliverance, and peace.
2. **Reading and Discussion (15 minutes)**
- Have students read Judges 4:1-24 and Judges 5:1-31 aloud in class or in groups.
- While reading, pause to highlight and explain key figures: Deborah (the prophetess and judge), Barak (the commander of Israel's army), and Sisera (the commander of King Jabin's army).
- Discuss the main events:
- The Israelites' oppression by King Jabin of Canaan.
- Deborah’s prophecy and Barak’s hesitation.
- Jael’s role in killing Sisera, leading to Israel’s victory.
3. **Character Analysis and Moral Lessons (10 minutes)**
- Discuss Deborah’s qualities as a leader (faith, courage, wisdom) and how she differs from other judges.
- Contrast Barak’s initial reluctance with his eventual courage and trust in Deborah’s leadership.
- Highlight Jael’s bravery and resourcefulness.
- Extract moral and spiritual lessons: trust in God’s plans, the importance of strong and faithful leadership, and the value of teamwork.
4. **Group Activity (10 minutes)**
- Divide the students into small groups and provide them with questions to discuss:
- How do Deborah’s leadership traits apply to leaders today?
- Can you think of a situation in your life where you had to be courageous like Deborah or Barak?
- What can we learn from Jael’s actions about using our talents and opportunities wisely?
5. **Conclusion and Application (5 minutes)**
- Summarize the key points discussed.
- Encourage students to reflect on how they can embody Deborah’s qualities in their daily lives.
- Provide a real-life application scenario where students can demonstrate faith and courage similar to Deborah and Barak.
6. **Assignment (5 minutes)**
- Assign a short reflective essay on what students learned from Deborah and Barak’s story and how they can apply those lessons.
- Hand out worksheets or questions to be discussed in the next class.
- End the lesson with a closing prayer.
---
### Assessment:
- Participation in reading and discussion
- Contributions during group activity
- Quality and insightfulness of reflective essay assignments
---
### Notes for Teacher:
- Be prepared to guide students in their reading and ensure they understand difficult terms.
- Encourage an open discussion where students can freely share their thoughts and reflections.
- Use visual aids (like maps of ancient Israel) if available to give students better context.
---