CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Overcoming Adversity – Teen Who Lost His Hands Becomes Unlikely Basketball Hero

When we are faced with challenges, it is important that we have strategies to help us overcome adversity.

Overcoming Adversity
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Responsibility
  • Citizenship
SEL Skills
  • Self-Awareness
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Diligent Learner
  • Self-Direction and Engagement

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.
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.

Social Awareness

Assess and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.

Diligent Learner

Have a growth mindset and is willing to learn from mistakes.

Self-Direction and Engagement

Fully engaged in the educational process and connected to the school community.

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 overcoming adversity from a basketball player and his team; they will discuss strategies to help them succeed in challenging situations.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What kinds of challenges do people face?
  • How do you define adversity?
    • Adversity is a very difficult or tough situation.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What characteristics does Jamarion have that helped him succeed? 
  • What adversity did Jamarion face in the video? How did he overcome that?
  • Who do you know that has overcome adversity? What skills did they use to help them overcome their challenges?
  • What can you learn from Jamarion?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Paper
  • Writing utensils
activity

Activity: Drawing Circles

  • Instruct students to draw a medium-sized circle in the middle of a blank piece of paper.
  • Ask students to rate how difficult that was on a scale of 1-3 (1 being easy, 3 being very difficult). Let a few students share their reasoning.
  • Ask students to flip their paper over and draw another medium-sized circle in the middle of the paper. This time they should draw with their non-dominant hand.
  • Ask students again to rate how difficult that was on a scale of 1-3 (1 being easy, 3 being very difficult). Let a few students share their reasoning.
  • Have students practice drawing circles with their non-dominant hand. 
  • Follow-up questions:
    • What were you thinking when you tried to draw with your non-dominant hand? Were you confident in your abilities?
    • What adversity did you face in the activity? How did your self-talk impact your success?
    • Did you get better at drawing with practice?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • What does the expression “you can’t judge a book by its cover” mean? How does it apply to Jamarion?
  • Write about a time you overcame adversity. How did you do it?

6-12

  • When faced with adverse situations, how do you respond? How would you change your response?
  • What are some ways that you can/will be more inclusive and welcoming in the future?
  • How can you help someone who is facing an adverse situation?
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/YfpGvXYzKSE

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about overcoming adversity.

  • What are some ways that a family is like a team? List some similarities and differences.
    • Which of Jamarion’s qualities are most important in family life/at home? Why?
  • The middle school basketball coach allowed Jamarion to be on the team even though he wasn’t sure if he could play basketball. Why did he do that?
  • Jamarion overcame significant physical challenges to pursue his passion and play basketball. How does this apply to our family?

Lesson contributed by Bill Blank & Samantha Mazo, The Leffell School, Hartsdale, NY   

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