Definition:

The ability to feel what others are feeling and the action of trying to help them with their troubles. 

In short: 

Feel what others feel.

Summary: Lubna, a small child, and her dad arrive by boat at night and are transported to a “world of tents”, a refugee camp. Lubna takes comfort in a pebble she found at the beach when they got off the boat. She brings it with her to the camp, and draws a face on it so it looks like a person. The pebble is her only companion until a boy, Amir, arrives at the camp. Lubna and Amir meet each other and she shows the frightened, unhappy boy her pebble. They spend time together until the day that Lubna and her dad prepare to leave the camp. Lubna makes a painful, but compassionate decision to give Amir her beloved pebble, and he gratefully accepts. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Teacher guides students in a discussion about what are refugees and what it’s like to live in a refugee camp (age appropriate, not scary)
2. Students can be guided in a project to help local refugees. Lubna’s stone comforted her. Children refugees might be comforted by a stuffed animal or a nice blanket. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. Lubna and her dad were refugees who left their country because it was unsafe for them. What do you think life was like for them after they left? 
2. What Lubna saw on her first morning after arriving by boat was a “world of tents.” What do you think she meant by that? 
3. How did Lubna cheer herself up when she first arrived at the refugee camp?
4. What did Lubna do to help Amir when he first arrived at the camp? 
5. Why did Lubna give Amir her most prized possession? 
6. Why did Lubna feel both happy and sad when it came time to leave the camp? 
7. The word compassion means you can feel another’s feelings. Do you think Lubna could feel Amir’s feelings? Why or why not? 
8. Do you think it’s hard to help someone else when you’re feeling sad? Why or why not? 
9. Lubna was comforted by the pebble, even calling it a friend. Do you have something that helps you when you feel sad? 
10. Can you think of a time when someone was sad and you helped them? What did you do?