MISFIT UNIVERSITY

 

 

When we lose HOPE, we lose our passion and sense of purpose. In a child's mind the feeling of hopelessness is magnified. So we invite you to explore what gives you hope through several projects and lessons, and hear from people who have found HOPE through persistence and discovery.  Then we ask you to share your discoveries and help others find hope.

 

 

HOPE

In the storybook, The Misfit Sock,  a sock loses its perfect match in 

the laundry cycle and is immediately thrown into the “misfit sock” pile.

Fearing it would never to be worn again, loved again or reunited with its perfect match, the sock becomes very sad and loses HOPE. 

 

Misfit Moment

Using a misfit sock as an example,  begin a conversation about the many people in the world who don't feel loved.  Many feel lost or have lost someone that they have loved deeply and don't know how to go on...

 

• Ask the children to think about those feelings.

• Ask them if people, like socks, might feel 

like misfits, too? 

• What makes someone feel like

 a misfit? Do they think people with

 special talents or challenges might 

feel like misfits?

• Have the kids define what they

 think “misfit” means to them? 

• Ask them to think about doing something 

special for someone that 

 feels sad or feels out of place. 

What could they do? 

 

Make a list of ideas. Ask each child to

 plan something special for that person

 and make a difference in their lives,

 if even for a day. 

 

 

 

 

Losing HOPE...

 

So often, children who feel like "misfits" or marginalized in some way lose hope in their heart and in life. In The Misfit Sock storybook that ‘s what happens to the misfit sock after it loses its perfect match in the laundry room and becomes labeled a “misfit” and thrown into a “misfit” pile. From that moment forward, the sock loses its identity and hope for the future. 

 

Children who feel like “misfits” might be: 

• Ignored constantly 

• Excluded from " the group"

• A victim of rumors being spread about them

• Made fun of 

* Extremely talented or have challenges

 

 

It is easy for children to feel invisible when they feel like “misfits, “especially when no one seems to even remember their name. 

The next activity shines both light and hope using a misfit sock. Children take a misfit sock, decorate it and then name their sock. Dressing up the sock and attaching a name to the sock gives the child a sense of power, dignity and ownership. It’s a good idea for children to share the name of their sock with others and why they decorated it the way they did.

 

Hang the socks on a string with clothespins around the room/classroom.

 

 

 

 

hope

   [hohp] Show IPA noun, verb, hoped, hop·ing.

 

noun

1.

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.

2.

a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.

3.

grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.

4.

a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.

5.

something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.