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.
Share This Activity
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

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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Des Moines, IA 50311

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RayCenter@Drake.edu

Character Counts
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