Perseverance – Summer

School on Wheels Social and Emotional Learning

Perseverance is continuing with something even when it is challenging or when we don’t succeed right away. In other words, perseverance is when we don’t give up! Over your next three tutoring sessions, your student will work on activities exploring – and demonstrating – perseverance. You will find 2 options in each of the 20 minute S.E.L. Summer Program activities below: writing or STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Your student should choose either writing or STEM, and continue with the same option throughout the next three tutoring sessions.

Complete all activities in order. Click the “Session” headings below to open each lesson plan.

Reminders for students and tutors:
● Listen with interest.
● Participate.
● Ask open-ended questions.
● Choose the best way for each of you to reflect and show your learning

Packet Completion Prize Information:
Your student is eligible for a prize after completing all of the activities below! You will find the link to the completion form at the end of Activity #3 – please complete it together when you’ve finished all of the activities on this page.

Identifying Obstacles

Let’s face personal challenges and confront them with courage!

5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity

It can be so challenging when you start to learn something new. These challenging moments can be referred to as “dips.” “The learning dip is the challenge we feel when we begin to learn something new. It can be difficult, and frustrating and make us want to give up. Learning feels like this sometimes.” Source.

To get started on the discussion questions below, select either the video or the slides option:

Video option: Perseverance – The Dip

Slides option: Perseverance Slide The Dip

Discussion & guiding questions:

  • What is a dip?
  • Where/what situations might we encounter a dip?
  • What kinds of emotions accompany a dip, and how can we stay positive?

5 min: Session review & preview

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2024 Community Padlet.

Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.

Preview the plan for today.

20 min: S.E.L. Summer Program activity

Throughout the next 3 tutoring sessions, you’ll continue on the option you choose today: either writing or STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Which path would you like to take?

Writing option

Choose one of the 3 writing prompts below, then brainstorm: Use this graphic organizer to think up and organize your student’s ideas based on the writing prompt they choose. Tutors, you are welcome to write or type for your student as needed.

Students are encouraged to include fantastical elements, silly situations & humor in their stories!

  • Prompt 1: Write a letter to yourself reflecting on an academic challenge(s) you’ve faced, why it was difficult, ways you can improve on these challenges, and/or your future academic goals!
  • Prompt 2: Write a story about a superhero who loses their powers but still has to find a way to be a hero.
  • Prompt 3: Consider a very challenging task or situation, then write a story about a character who has to face and/or overcome that challenge. (For example, climbing a mountain or biking across the whole city.)

Discussion & guiding questions: Who is the main character in the story? When and where does the story take place? What challenge is the character facing, and why? What do they need to face this challenge?

STEM option

Escape the maze by breaking the code! Choose either a programming and coding challenge or a fun escape room based on Pete the Cat!

Programming & coding option (complete in order):

  1. Video: Unplugged – Graph Paper Programming
  2. Activity worksheet: Graph Paper Coding Template
  3. Final challenge: Maze Run Escape Room! Logic Maze Level 1 & Answer Key

Virtual escape room option:

Pete The Cat Escape Room

5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity

Continue to persist through challenging activities by practicing a fun fidget: pen spinning!

Materials needed: 1 pen per person

Watch & try it: Basic pen spinning trick for beginners

Discussion & guiding questions: Did you find this activity challenging? Were you able to master this activity? If not, do not give up! Celebrate the small things!

Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.

Unstoppable Me!

Time to embark on a longer challenge!

Remember, challenges can be called “dips”. Often, dips may feel like you can’t climb back up while you’re at the bottom… but perseverance is all about how you do exactly that! Please choose one of the following options to review and discuss:

Video option: Perseverance – Climbing out of the Dip

Discussion & guiding questions:

  • What should you do when you make a mistake? 
  • What will happen if you continue to repeat this process?
    • Try using the word “neuron” in your explanation! 
  • How do we escape the dip? Give a real-life example or an example from your writing prompt in your last tutoring session!

Slides option: Perseverance Strategies

Discussion & guiding questions:

  • Have you ever tried any of these strategies when you’ve made a mistake in the past?
  • Which strategy has been the most helpful, or do you think would be the most helpful for you?
  • Can you think of any challenge coming up when you could try out some of these strategies?

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2024 Community Padlet.

Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.

Preview the plan for today.

Remember, continue with the path you chose during your last tutoring session: writing or STEM!

Writing option

It’s time to start writing! Use your graphic organizer from the first session.

Tutor information:

  • If possible, create a free account and review the guidance at 826 Digital before your tutoring session (this is not required but will provide more information, including a complete lesson plan and description of the activity). 
  • We recommend that you participate and quickly create your own very simple story on the same prompt as your student. This will benefit them throughout, but especially next week when you can model editing and revision.
  • Throughout, you are welcome to write down ideas and sentences for your students as they tell you verbally.

In your tutoring session:

  • Start with version 1A of the Backward Storytelling handout.
    • For this activity, you need to fill out ONE page of this handout (1A) but there are 3 longer versions (1B, 2A, 2B) available if needed for your student’s story. 
    • Tell your student to start by imagining the very end of their story and draw it where it says “Start drawing here!” Students will first draw their story backward, then write their story from beginning to end (starting with simple notes or sentences in version 1A).
  • If there is time today, your student can use the Transitions Handout to start linking their story. If not, save the Transitions Handout for next week.

STEM option

It’s time to face a tougher challenge! Please select one option below for today.

Programming & coding

Online coding option: Start your own Scratch project!

Visit https://scratch.mit.edu/ to try creating your own coding project. At the link, you can watch a video to get some ideas, scroll down to look at Featured Projects, and when you’re ready click “Start Creating”!

  • Scratch is designed for students, so you are welcome to create either a student account or a tutor account to save the progress you make today.

Paper coding option (to upload or print): Complete the Level 2 Maze Run Escape Room!

In-person, hands-on engineering option:

Materials needed: Up to 10 matching cups based on the challenge you and your student choose to tackle.

Follow the instructions and see how many “stacks” you can complete… quickly!

The Basics of Cup Stacking

Have you learned any signs from American Sign Language (ASL) before? Today, use your hands to speak and to complete this challenge.

Option to watch the ASL poem “Caterpillar“.

Click here to Try a Challenge: Sign Language

  • Can you sign the word “perseverance”?
  • Can you sign your name?
  • Can you sign it faster the second time you try?

Tutors: It is ok to upload a photo or video to our Padlet of your student’s hands signing. Please remember that faces can not be included.

Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.

Sticking with It!

When you persevere through a challenge, the reward is worth sharing!

We can escape all of our “dips”, but challenges are inevitable and will happen throughout our lives. We can decide how we respond and act on them. Please choose one of the following options to review and discuss:

Video option: The Big Show

Discussion & guiding questions:

  • How does it feel to escape the dip?
  • Can you have more than one dip?
  • In the video, Mojomus Edison says that failing is “learning new ways to improve”. What does that mean?

Worksheet option: 101 Positive Affirmations

  • Affirmations are positive words or phrases that we can think to ourselves, say aloud, and repeat, and allow us to deal with challenging thoughts and situations. 
  • Review the document. Then, complete the last page by listing some positive thoughts and affirmations you can say to yourself during challenging times.
    • You can include affirmations from the document or create your own affirmations.

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2024 Community Padlet.

Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.

Preview the plan for today.

Coming soon!

Remember, continue with the path you chose during your last tutoring session: writing or STEM!

Writing option

It’s time to edit, revise, and proofread your story!

Tutor information:

  • Please model each step in the process today using your own notes and writing. 
  • Your student has the option to complete edits today or to continue editing during future tutoring sessions (just remember to submit your completion form at the end of your tutoring session today because you’ve earned a prize!)

In your tutoring session:

Start by admiring your work from last week, and if there wasn’t time to add transition words add them now. Next, follow the ARMS strategy one step at a time:

1. Add details

2. Remove unnecessary words

3. Move words or sentences

4. Substitute (find synonyms for words that are repeated, could be clarified, or just to try out new vocabulary)

*Visit the Guide to Revision for more details and activities around any step in this process

Finally, read both of your stories looking for any words that are spelled incorrectly, and fix punctuation.

  • Tutors, if your student has many words to fix, just pick 3-5 to focus on.

STEM option

Continue to challenge yourself as you reach the end of this activity series!

Programming & coding

Online coding option: Finish your Scratch project from your last tutoring session!

You will need to enter the login created last time, or start a new project.

Paper coding option (to upload or print): Complete the Level 3 Maze Run Escape Room!

In-person, hands-on engineering option:

Materials needed: 4+ sheets of paper, clear tape, and at least 1 book – more books will increase the challenge!

Using only 4 sheets of paper and clear tape, can you hold a book up in the air?

How many books can you hold up in the air?

After you try this challenge, click here for some strategies and photos of how some other students did it!

Reflect and discuss, reflect, write, or draw; your choice!

Discussion and guiding questions:

  • Were you able to… escape the mazes? Write a great story? Complete your Scratch project? Create a book tower?
  • What was challenging about the activities you chose?
  • What worked well? What did not work so well?
  • How could this challenge relate to others you face, such as struggling with a tricky math problem or learning a difficult skill?

Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.