What We Learned
- The Good Samaritan wasn’t the person anyone expected to be the hero.
- Being kind sometimes means doing something inconvenient.
- Helping is brave—even when you feel nervous.
- Small acts of compassion can change someone’s whole day.
- A neighbor isn’t just someone who lives next door—it’s anyone who needs help.
Story Beats Recap
- We land on the dangerous Jericho road
- A happy traveler is attacked and left injured
- A priest passes by
- A Levite passes by
- A Samaritan stops
- Bandages, lifts, walks, and pays
- Kids complete a Kindness Ninja training
- Belief Backpack reflection
- Secret Samaritan weekly challenge
📘 Parents & Educators Section
Why This Story Matters
The Good Samaritan parable has been told for thousands of years because its message is timeless:
Doing the right thing isn’t about who you are—it’s about what you choose to do.
This episode helps kids:
- Build empathy
- Recognize people who need help
- Practice compassion across differences
- Understand that kindness takes courage
- Apply the message to real-life situations at school, home, and beyond
Conversation Starters
Use these in the car, at dinner, or in a classroom circle:
- “What surprised you about the story?”
- “Why do you think the first two helpers walked away?”
- “Has there ever been a time when you wanted to help but felt nervous?”
- “What’s one thing you can do this week to be a Secret Samaritan?”
- “What does kindness look like? Not just feel like?”
Classroom & Home Activity Ideas
- Make a Kindness Map: Draw places where kindness is needed—cafeteria, playground, bus, home.
- Role-Play Scenarios: Act out moments when someone needs help.
- Kindness Bingo: Fill in a card with small actions (sharing, helping, inviting, noticing).
- Design a Donkey Companion: Create Barnaby the Donkey with crayons or digital art.
🔍 Dive Deeper
Explore Other Faith Traditions About Compassion
Pair this episode with:
- The Turbaned Tornado: Meet Fauja Singh — Sikh values of service
- Listening Hearts: Discovering the Power of Prayer — global compassion practices
- Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are — African philosophy of community
- Three Sisters: Haudenosaunee Beliefs — cooperation and care
- Shabbat Table — rest, peace, and noticing each other
Books to Extend Learning
by Tomie dePaola
Tomie dePaola’s warm illustrations and gentle tone make this a perfect introduction to the Good Samaritan for children. He retells several parables with clarity and charm, creating a book families return to again and again.
Best for: Ages 4–8
Why we love it: It’s classic, comforting, and visually beautiful. A wonderful way to talk about kindness at bedtime.
by Zondervan, illustrated by David Miles
Perfect for early readers, this book blends simple storytelling with early-reader independence. The sentences are short, the...
