Patience – Teens Help Seniors Learn How to Use Technology

Patience means staying calm when helping others. It means showing respect and empathy, being supportive, and staying positive during one’s learning journey.

Patience
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Respect
  • Caring
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills 
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Diligent Learner
  • Self-Direction and Engagement

Definitions

Respect
  • Follow the Golden Rule.
  • Be accepting of differences.
  • Be courteous to others.
  • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
  • Be considerate of others’ feelings.
Caring
  • Be kind.
  • Be compassionate.
  • Express gratitude.
  • Forgive others.
  • Be considerate of others’ feelings
Relationship Skills 

Create positive relationships and meaningful connections with family members, classmates, and teachers.

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.

Share This Activity
The Ray Center at Drake University
CBS News

Students will reflect on the importance of having patience while assisting others, modeled by the group of teenagers in the video.

activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What is your favorite app on your phone? Was it easy to learn how to use it? Explain why or why not.
  • When was someone patient with you as you learned something new?
  • What does patience mean?
    • Patience is the ability to endure difficult circumstances.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • How did the teenagers in the video show patience?
  • What was the impact of their patience?
  • When have you shown someone patience?
  • When is showing patience challenging?
materials

Activity Materials

  • A small gift or prize (examples: a sticker or yo-yo)
  • Wrapping paper
  • Tape
  • Music
  • Variation:
    • Saran Wrap
    • Dice
    • Oven mitts (optional)
activity

Activity: The Gift of Patience

  • Set up the activity:
    • Write the word “patience” on a piece of paper. Put it in a small box and wrap the box.
      • You can also wrap a box containing enough pieces of candy for all students in the classroom to enjoy once the activity is completed.
    • Continue to wrap the box in multiple layers of wrapping paper. The more layers, the better!
  • Ask students to stand in a circle. 
  • Pass the box around the circle. Each student will unwrap the box while the music plays. They must stop unwrapping and pass the box when the music stops.
  • Once the last layer has been unwrapped, the student who unwraps the final layer will reveal the prize inside the gift box.
  • Variation of game:
    • Wrap the gift in saran wrap.
    • Students wear oven mitts to unwrap the gift.
    • Student A begins unwrapping the Saran wrap ball while Student B rolls two dice.
    • When Student B rolls a double with the dice, Student A passes the saran ball and oven mitts to Student B.
    • Play continues around the circle until the gift is revealed.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • Why was patience important in this activity?
    • How did it feel waiting for your turn to unwrap the gift?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Sometimes, waiting for our turn or for something to happen is hard. Describe a time when you felt impatient. What did you do to try to be patient?
  • Think about a time when you helped someone who needed extra time or assistance. How did you show patience while assisting them?

6-12

  • How can we apply the concept of patience in our own lives, mainly when assisting others who may be struggling or learning something new?
  •  When have you had to demonstrate patience while helping someone else? What did you learn from that experience?
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/WdK8E3plycg

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about patience. 

  • What can we learn from the teenagers in the video?
  • What is challenging about showing patience, especially when we want something or are excited?
  • Describe a situation where you saw someone being patient. How did their patience make a difference or help others?

Activity

  • Put together a puzzle as a family.
  • To increase the focus on patience, separate all the colors before you put any pieces together.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities