Character Education
Informational
Handbook & Guide
Perseverance Sticking to a purpose or
aim
Short
Lessons
• At the beginning of the
year, have students set and record their goal grade for the year. At
the end of each interim and report period discuss with each student
individually how he or she can continue to reach that
goal.
• Talk about perseverance in
relationships. Do parents have to persevere with children? Do couples
and married people have to persevere in their relationships? Do
friends sometimes need perseverance?
• Tell students about Thomas
Edison, who tried 1,000 different combinations before he found the
right materials for the light bulb. (For a resource, use the book The
Wizard of Sound, by Barbara Mitchell.) Talk about the importance of
trying out an idea, sometimes over and over again.
• Ask students to write down
on a piece of paper all the things that they think they can’t
accomplish in life. Tear up the papers and remind the students that
they can do anything they want to do if they are
determined.
• Ask students to watch for
examples of persons who show enormous perseverance—such as a
person injured in an accident who must learn to walk again—or a
baby learning to walk for the first time. Discuss the rewards these
people will realize because of their determination.
• Talk about goals. Why are
they important? What are they for? Ask students, if we don’t
know where we are going, are we likely to get there?
• Summarize The Seven Habits
of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey. Share these habits with
your class and briefly describe how each habit can lead to
accomplishing goals.
• Read selections of Chicken
Soup for the Soul, by Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen. Discuss/reflect
on the perseverance of individuals in these short stories.
• Interview an older relative,
neighbor or friend. Ask the questions below, plus any others you
think are important. Write a brief report describing what you
learned.
What has brought you the greatest
success in life?
What is one thing you would like to
tell younger people about successful living?
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