Definition:

Courage is being willing to face something hard or scary, like trying to do something you’ve never done before. 

In short:

Do good, try hard even when it’s scary.

Summary:
Patricia Polacco tells the story of how her grandmother (Babushka in Polish) helped her overcome her fear of thunder. Babushka shows Patricia how to calculate the distance of the storm by counting the seconds between lightning flashes and thunder and she invites her granddaughter to help her make “thunder cake” . Patricia courageously faces some challenges as they gather the ingredients from the farm. The storm hits as they bake the cake, and Patricia is never afraid of thunder after that. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. This story can be linked to a science lesson about weather. 
2. The teacher guides students in a discussion about fear : what are you afraid of and what could help you overcome that fear? 

Guiding Questions: 

1. How does Patricia react when she hears thunder in the beginning of the story? 
2. Patricia’s grandmother explains how to tell the distance of the storm. Explain in your own words how to do that. 
3. Explain how Patricia gathered the ingredients for the thunder cake. 
4. Patricia didn’t think she was courageous. How did her grandmother help Patricia realize that she was brave? 
5. Can you think of a time when you were scared and something happened to help you face your fears? 
6. Can you think of anything that makes you afraid? Share about what it is and how you feel when it happens. 
7. Do you have a technique, something you do that helps you feel stronger when you are afraid? 
8. Ask a friend or family member questions #6 and #7. 
9. What did the grandmother say to Patricia near the end of the story that helped her see that she was a courageous person after all? 
10. If you live in a place where there are thunderstorms, try counting the seconds between lightning flashes and thunder.