Boris never wants to play with jigsaws again... In this lesson Dave and Boris explore grit and the role that perseverance plays in solving problems. Dave explains how challenge does not leave us without agency - perseverance is a choice. At the end of this lesson Boris finds himself inspired by different stories of adventurers who never quit, and Boris bravely returns to the jigsaw puzzle.

Materials Required: pencil and paper (colored pencils and markers optional)

Age Group: Early Elementary/KS1

This lesson cross references the SEL Core Competency: 'Responsible Decision-Making.' It teaches one important aspect of this larger CASEL value - to employ grit in pursuing personal and community well-being. One's role in promoting community success is to bravely persevere. Every important discovery, positive social movement, and technological advancement faced setback and required endurance. This episode helps students identify and respond to problems with constructive choices.

This lesson cross-references with B-SMS 5. B-SMS 6. M 5. from the ASCA Mindset and Behavior Standards.

UK:
MW3 : Mental Wellbeing - how to recognise and talk about their emotions, including having a varied vocabulary of words to use when talking about their own and others’ feelings and
MW4 : Mental Wellbeing - how to judge whether what they are feeling and how they are behaving is appropriate and proportionate.

Biblical Insight:
Paul was given this mandate from the Messiah - spread the Gospel. However he was “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Part of the journey of faith is pressing on in the midst of difficulty. Even in the situation of the the early church, the persecution of the church in Jerusalem caused the Gospel to spread outside Israel. Adversity creates opportunity for grit; there is always a way!
Additional Scriptures: Joshua 1:9, Philippians 3:14