CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Adaptability – Steve Hartman Proves the Sky’s the Limit

Life has a way of throwing many different challenges our way. Sometimes, we need to show adaptability to help us persevere and be successful.

Adaptability
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Responsibility
  • Good Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management 
Academic Skills
  • Critical and Creative Thinking 
  • Effective Problem Solving

Definitions

Responsibility
  • Do what you are supposed to do. Try your best.
  • Persevere. Keep on trying.
  • Be self-disciplined.
  • Think before you act. Consider the consequences.
  • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes.
Good Citizenship 
  • Do your share to make your home, school, and community better.
  • Cooperate.
  • Stay informed. Vote.
  • Be a good neighbor.
  • Make choices that protect the safety and rights of others.
  • Protect the environment.
Self-Awareness

Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes.

Self-Management 

Regulate emotions, attitudes, and actions and resist negative emotions and impulses.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Acquire, remember, understand, and apply knowledge.

Effective Problem-Solving

Make rational, ethical, and practical decisions to find the best solutions to problems.

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.
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The Ray Center at Drake University
CBS News

Students will learn about resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills from Steve Hartman’s nephew, Ted.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What are your five senses? Which do you think you use the most?
  • Which of your five senses would be the most challenging to lose? Explain your answer.
  • What is the definition of adaptability?
    • Adaptability is the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What are some examples of people making excuses instead of taking action to make things happen? How can adopting a “make it happen” mindset lead to more success and achievement?
  • How did the race car driver’s story impact Ted?
  • How did Ted’s connections with mentors and supportive individuals impact his resilience?
  • Why is adaptability so important?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Paper plates (one per student)
  • Markers
activity

Activity: Paper Plate Art

  • Give each student a paper plate and a marker.
  • Ask students to put the paper plate on top of their head.
  • Now, ask students to draw a picture on the paper plate (without looking at the plate).
    • Self-portrait: Encourage them to draw what they think they look like without peeking, including facial features, hair, and accessories.
    • Favorite animal: Have them draw their favorite animal, whether a pet, a wild animal, or a mythical creature.
    • Favorite food: Let their creativity run wild as they draw their favorite meal, snack, or dessert.
    • Seasonal scene: Depending on the time of year, they could draw a snowy winter landscape, a sunny summer day, a colorful autumn forest, or a blooming spring garden.
  • After giving students a few minutes to draw, have them look at their drawing.
    • Using another paper plate or the blank side of their original paper plate, ask students to students repeat the activity.
    • They should draw the same thing, thinking about any adaptations they may need to make after learning from the first drawing.
    • Have the students compare their two drawings.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • What was most challenging about this activity?
    • How did you adapt when you made your second drawing?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • How did connections with others, like Steve Hartman and the blind drag racer, help Ted pursue his dream?
  • Who can you connect with when you need support?

6-12

  • How can you build and nurture meaningful connections to bolster your resilience?
  • Describe a time when you had to adapt to a new situation. What did you learn from this?
family connection

Family Connection

Educators: Copy the Family Connection and email it to parents, or click here to download a PDF version to email or print.

Watch
Watch the video as a family: https://youtu.be/znj_SHxbd1o

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about adaptability.

  • How did Ted’s connections with mentors and supportive individuals impact his resilience?
  • Share the story of someone resilient you admire.
  • Talk about a time you had to be adaptable at home.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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