CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Stick-to-itiveness – Basketball Players See Their Hard Work Pay Off

When facing a challenging task and not seeing the progress we want, it can be hard to want to keep trying. However, the power of “stick-to-itiveness” can help us keep working towards success.

Stick-to-itiveness
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Trustworthiness
  • Responsibility
SEL Skills
  • Responsible Decision-Making
  • Self-Management
Academic Skills
  • Diligent Learner
  • Self-Direction and Engagement

Definitions

Trustworthiness
  • Be honest. Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal.
  • Have integrity. Do what you say you’ll do.
  • Keep your promises.
  • Be loyal. Stand by your values.
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.
Responsible Decision-Making

Make decisions based on rationality, ethics, and effectiveness.

Self-Management
Regulate emotions, attitudes, and actions and resist negative emotions and impulses.
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 practice “stick-to-itiveness”  and reflect on how failure is essential on the road to success.
Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • Would you stay on a team that never won a game? Why or why not?
  • What does stick-to-itiveness mean?
    • Stick-to-itiveness means trying to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • How did the girls in the video show they were persistent/had stick-to-itiveness?
  • Why were they so persistent, even though they lost every game and were made fun of by their peers?
  • What does this video teach about sticking to things you commit to?
materials

Activity Materials

  • Blocks/Jenga or stackable classroom materials
  • Timer
activity

Activity: Stick-to-itiveness Tower

  • Put students into small groups of 4-5.
  • Give them a 5-minute timer to build the tallest tower using blocks, classroom materials, or Legos.
  • Encourage students to stick to it. If their tower falls, they will start over from the beginning.
  • Optional: Add different challenges throughout the five minutes. For example, for one minute, you can only build with one hand; for thirty seconds, two of your group members cannot help build or talk to the group; for one minute, your group has to work silently.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • How did you show stick-to-itiveness in this activity?
    • When was it most challenging it keep building the tower?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • What was hard for you at first, but you have worked to improve it?
  • What do you learn about stick-to-itiveness from playing a sport with a team?

6-12

  • Write the benefits of stick-to-itiveness when it comes to:
    • Learning to ride a bike
    • Learning to swim
    • Learning a musical instrument
    • Learning a new language
  • How does stick-to-itiveness build your character and prepare you for the future?
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

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about stick-to-itiveness.

  • How do you think these girls felt as a team when they won a game?
  • Share examples of when you had to have stick-to-itiveness or perseverance to succeed.
    • How did it feel while you were working through it?
    • What did it feel like when you achieved success?
  • How does sticking to something build your character?

Activity

  • Commit to completing a puzzle as a family and work until it is finished.
  • Then, share what it felt like to work on the puzzle as a family. When did you have to show “stick-to-itiveness”?
  • Discuss how it made you feel when you completed it together.

More Kindness 101

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