Exploring the value of perseverance through the parable of The Lost Sheep.
The video
JONAH: Hello, I'm Jonah. Have you ever been told that if you can't sleep, you should try counting sheep in your head? Well, imagine what it's like being a shepherd and having to count sheep for real.
Do you think it would send you to sleep? Let's try counting them. One, two, three, four. Are you feeling sleepy?
GIRLS: SHAKE HEADS
JONAH: No, me neither. And it's a little bit too noisy for sleeping. Now, this story is about a shepherd who persevered and didn't give up.
This shepherd was out counting his 100 sheep when he realised…
SHEPHERD: 97, 98, 99… Oh, oh no, one of my sheep is missing!
JONAH: What did the shepherd do? Did he say…
SHEPHERD: Oh well, I've got 99. That's good enough. I think I'll go to bed.
JONAH: No, he did not. He said…
SHEPHERD: I will find that lost sheep and I won't rest until I do!
JONAH: The fields were big and the lost sheep was small. This could've taken a long time, but the shepherd was determined and was not going to give up.
He looked everywhere!
The shepherd looked under things… and around things. But no lost sheep, so he kept on looking. But then… No, that was a goat.
The shepherd even went to the top of a hill. Surely, he'd be able to see the sheep from there! Still, no lost sheep.
But he didn't give up. He persevered and kept on looking everywhere he could think of.
STORY NARRATOR: Until eventually…
JONAH: He'd found the lost sheep! Hello! So, he brought the sheep home and threw a party!
Weren't those sheep lucky to have a shepherd who persevered and never gave up. Thanks for helping me tell today's treasure story. It's a story from the Bible that Jesus told. See you again soon. Bye!
The story of The Lost Sheep is found in the Bible in the book of Luke, Chapter 15. The story is a parable that Jesus told. Christians believe that parables are stories with ‘hidden’ meanings that teach a moral or a lesson.
Christians believe that the shepherd in this story represents God and that the sheep are God’s people or God’s kingdom. God will always be faithful to God’s people (like the shepherd in the story) and if one goes astray or is lost, God will do anything to find them and rejoice when they return.
The shepherd in the story goes everywhere to find his sheep - even places of danger - until eventually the sheep is found. This can help us to reflect on the value of perseverance and the success that can result from never giving up.
Duration: 3' 31"
Final words: 'See you again soon! Bye!'
Video questions
- How many sheep did the shepherd have? (100)
- What happened when the shepherd counted his sheep? (He found out there were only 99 and one was missing)
- What did the shepherd promise to do when he found out one sheep was missing? (He would find the lost sheep)
- Where did the shepherd look? (He looked under things, around things and went to the top of the hill)
Teacher Notes
Read the story from the Bible. Then ask the children to freeze frame being the shepherd, one of the 99 sheep, or the lost sheep, at the following points of the story:
- When the shepherd counts to 99 instead of 100
- When the shepherd goes off to look for the lost sheep
- When the shepherd finds the lost sheep and holds a partyPick individuals to unfreeze and share what their character is thinking or what their character would say in each part of the story.
Questions to help children apply the learning from the story:
- When have you tried something challenging?
- When did you last feel like giving up? What did you do to overcome that feeling?
- What happens when we keep trying at something?
Ask the children to come up with a slogan or design a poster for each class in the school to encourage their peers to persevere when challenges come their way. Discuss what words and images might be suitable on their posters and why.
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching KS1 Religious Education in England and Northern Ireland, the Curriculum for Wales (particularly RVE as part of Humanities), and Early and 1st Level Religious and Moral Education in Scotland.
Further resources
Related BBC Teach content
The Parable of the Lost Sheep - the story of The Lost Sheep is animated for KS1 pupils, alongside the story of The Good Samaritan
