Promised Neverland is not your average manga or anime, and it has the potential to inspire valuable discussions among students. By exploring themes like the importance of family, the value of friendship, and the strength to pursue one’s dreams against all odds, teachers can create engaging lessons that encourage critical thinking and creativity. This article will highlight some of the essential points in teaching students about Promised Neverland and using its narrative to spark thought-provoking discussions in any educational setting.
1. Introducing the World of Promised Neverland
Before diving into the complex themes and character development within Promised Neverland, give students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the story’s setting and basic premise. Offer brief summaries of key characters, such as Emma, Ray, and Norman, who form a bond while living at Grace Field House. Ensure that students understand the dystopian world these characters inhabit – one where children are groomed for consumption by demonic creatures – setting the groundwork for more profound exploration later on.
2. Exploring Themes of Family and Loyalty
One of Promised Neverland’s most significant driving forces is the love between siblings and friends. For instance, Emma’s unwavering determination to save her “family” from their terrible fate is a powerful theme to discuss in class. Teachers can explore how relationships between characters – including those with their caretaker “Mom” Isabella – drive the story forward while questioning what it truly means to be a family.
3. Delving into Strategic Problem-Solving
Promised Neverland offers countless opportunities for students to engage in analytical conversations centered around problem-solving. The protagonists are often faced with challenging situations that test their strategic thinking abilities as they navigate life-or-death scenarios. Encourage students to consider how various characters demonstrate intelligence, ingenuity, and foresight while overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles in pursuit of freedom.
4. Examining Moral Dilemmas
Promised Neverland’s narrative provides multiple instances where characters need to make difficult moral decisions, making it an excellent tool for teaching ethics and morals. Host discussions on morality through the lens of several in-series events to encourage students to view ethical quandaries from different perspectives and consider what they would do in each character’s place.
5. Encouraging Creativity and Imagination
Finally, use Promised Neverland as a springboard for creative writing exercises or artistic projects. Encourage students to imagine alternative storylines, resolutions, or even new characters who could have appeared in the series. Students can develop fanfiction, write essays analyzing elements of the story, or create their own visual representations of significant scenes or characters.
