Educators and parents seeking to instill the value of perseverance in children have access to a variety of free resources designed for classroom and home use. These materials focus on social-emotional learning (SEL), character education, and growth mindset development. The available freebies range from printable storybooks and activity spinners to lesson plans and classroom posters, all aimed at helping students learn to persist through challenges.
Overview of Available Free Resources
The provided sources detail a collection of free educational materials centered on teaching perseverance. These resources are primarily targeted at elementary school students, with specific age ranges often noted (e.g., 2nd–4th grade, 3rd–6th grade). They are distributed through educational blogs, teacher marketplaces like Teachers Pay Teachers, and direct downloads from educational websites. The materials are designed to be low-prep and ready-to-use, supporting teachers in integrating character education into existing curricula.
Categories of Perseverance Materials
The free resources can be categorized into several types of educational tools, each addressing different aspects of teaching perseverance.
Printable Storybooks and Visual Aids
Printable storybooks are a prominent resource for introducing the concept of perseverance through narrative. * Growth Mindset Book: A free printable storybook is available that introduces students to positive thinking, perseverance, and the idea that mistakes help us learn. The book features relatable kid-friendly stories and characters who model perseverance, effort, and learning from mistakes. It is designed to support classroom discussions about emotions and resilience and is suitable for whole-group read-alouds or small-group discussions (Source 6). * Grit Bookmark: A free printable grit bookmark is offered to promote perseverance, resilience, and a growth mindset. It is intended for use in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, morning meetings, or as a motivation booster for testing season. The resource includes a printable bookmark in color and black and white (Source 7). * Poster: A poster that can be printed up to 20" x 30" is available to promote perseverance. It aligns with the Standards of Mathematical Practice MP1: "Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them" (Source 7).
Interactive Activities and Games
Interactive tools are designed to engage students actively in learning perseverance strategies. * Perseverance Spinner: A no-prep spinner introduces nine strategies students can use when they feel like giving up. The spinner can be kept with students as a reminder to use perseverance and maintain a growth mindset. It is part of a larger resource called "Perseverance Activities" (Source 2). * Paper Tower Challenge: A stand-alone lesson using only paper or a deck of cards challenges students to build a paper tower, testing their determination and perseverance (Source 3). * Movement-Based Challenges: A classroom guidance lesson involves watching a brief clip about a llama who perseveres, followed by movement-based challenges for individuals and partners. The lesson includes a debrief about feelings when things get tough and how to encourage others (Source 2).
Lesson Plans and Instructional Guides
Structured lesson plans help educators teach perseverance systematically. * Classroom Guidance Lesson: A lesson plan for elementary school counseling includes objectives, an outline/script, and a materials list. It is based on ASCA standards and helps students practice persevering through challenges (Source 2). * Positive Thinking Lesson: A freebie that serves as a two-page sample of a larger resource, focusing on positive thinking (Source 4). * Tips for Problem Solving: A freebie provides ready-to-use tips for improving problem-solving and increasing student perseverance, including a high-quality math problem for classroom use (Source 2).
Writing and Reflection Activities
Activities that encourage students to reflect on their experiences and goals. * Story Writing: Students are asked to write a story for younger kids about not giving up, including a challenge the main character must persevere through (Source 3). * Letter to Future Self: Writing a letter to their future self is suggested as a way to teach goal setting and perseverance. Students discuss achievable goals and write about a long-term goal they want to work towards (Source 3). * Perseverance Files: A resource called "The Perseverance Files" is available in lower and upper elementary versions, including pamphlet versions for a print-and-go option (Source 5).
Subject-Specific Strategies
Some resources offer strategies tailored to specific academic subjects. * Math Class: Five strategies are available to help kids persevere when tackling math problems. Team problem-solving is also highlighted as a method to teach perseverance (Source 1). * French Reading Comprehension: A resource for A1/A2 level French students introduces key character traits, including perseverance (persévérance), while strengthening vocabulary and comprehension skills (Source 7).
Supplementary Materials and Multimedia
To support instruction, several sources recommend books and videos. * Recommended Books: * I Can’t Do That, YET: Growth Mindset by Esther Pia Cordova: Focuses on the concept of "yet" and growth mindset (Source 4). * The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires: About a character facing a challenge she hasn't mastered yet (Source 4). * Videos and Read-Alouds: * Finding Nemo clips are recommended for demonstrating perseverance during social-emotional learning lessons (Source 3). * I Choose to Try Again is a read-aloud video featuring a character named Kiara who makes mistakes and learns from them (Source 5).
Sourcing and Distribution
The free resources are hosted on various platforms. Teachers Pay Teachers is a recurring source, specifically its browse feature for free items searching for "perseverance" or "perseverance printable" (Source 2, Source 7). Educational blogs such as Meaningful Mama, Heart and Mind Teaching, Savvy School Counselor, and Clearfix Labs also distribute these materials directly (Source 1, Source 4, Source 5, Source 6). Some sources mention affiliate relationships (e.g., Amazon Associates), but the free resources themselves are provided at no cost.
Conclusion
The available free resources provide a comprehensive toolkit for educators and parents to teach perseverance. Through a combination of printable books, interactive games, structured lesson plans, and reflective activities, children can learn the importance of grit, resilience, and a growth mindset. These materials are readily accessible through educational blogs and marketplaces, supporting the integration of character education into diverse learning environments.