In this lesson, we are learning to:

• Define and understand the meaning of perseverance.
• Describe an experience that required perseverance.
• Make and share personal connections to a text.

Episode: ‘Yoinks – The kids discover that some things can be too much fun.

Find ‘Yoinks’ on NITV, Netflix or SBS On Demand.

Begin by asking students to recall a time when they had to work particularly hard to achieve a goal. This might have been a skill or task at home, at school or in another context.

Working in pairs, have students think of one realistic goal that would be difficult for peers to achieve. For example, riding a unicycle, learning to read, saving money to buy something, or finishing a level in a video game. Ask pairs to share their thoughts with the class, then reflect on the effort that would be required for these challenging tasks.

In the Eddie’s Lil’ Homies episode titled ‘Yoinks’, Tal recruits friends to help him build a rubbish-collection robot – or ‘rub-bot’ – for the Science Talent Quest. The rub-bot is a way to keep Country clean. Eddie is excited about the opportunity to win a prize for their entry, but the task becomes even harder than he expected.

Acknowledge the Country where the class and school is located. Explore with students what Country means to them, remembering to include the skies and waterways.

Ask students to reflect on why keeping Country clean and healthy is important. The discussion can include how our own health is dependent on the health of where we live.

Watch this episode as a class, asking students to pay attention to the distractions and other challenges that slow down Eddie’s progress. Invite students to share their observations with the class after viewing.

Explain to students that Eddie and his friends demonstrated perseverance in this episode, relating this to the examples shared by students earlier in the lesson.

Perseverance means continuing with something – or persevering – even if it is difficult or takes a long time to be successful. It means you have grit and determination; you are set on a goal and won’t give up until you achieve it. Perseverance is important because it helps us to overcome challenges and achieve our goals, even when things feel difficult.

Our perseverance can be improved through practice, and we can use strategies to help us achieve our goals. Share the list with the class and check for understanding, then invite further suggestions for persisting with challenges. 

The following strategies could be recorded on an anchor chart to support discussion and for future reference.

1. Decide on your goal.
2. Break the task into smaller steps.
3. Do one small step at a time.
4. Be patient.
5. Learn from your mistakes.
6. Try new approaches.
7. Remember past perseverance.
8. Have a growth mindset. 

Which of these approaches did Eddie and his friends use? For example, Tal broke the task into smaller steps. Which approaches have students tried before?

Printable perseverance strategy cards are provided below as an optional asset. Students could illustrate these cards and use them when tackling future challenges.

Perseverance is closely linked to the concept of a growth mindset, which emphasises that our abilities and knowledge can always be improved through effort and practice. People with a growth mindset see challenges and mistakes as part of the process: they learn from them and try new approaches instead. Instead of saying that they ‘can’t’ achieve a task or skill, those with a growth mindset say, ‘I can’t do it…YET’.

Allocate students to small groups and provide each group with a large piece of paper. Through group conversations, ask students to identify and write or draw three examples of tasks/skills they have all mastered, and one task/skill that they haven’t achieved…yet. Completed posters should look like this:

1. We can ______.
2. We can ______.
3. We can ______.
4. We can’t _____ yet.

 Each group could share their posters with the wider class to illustrate and reflect on situations where perseverance may be required. Classmates may have suggestions for new approaches that would help students achieve their goals. 

To enable students to demonstrate their understanding of perseverance, have students complete the provided worksheet (see PDF). They will create a short comic strip about perseverance.

If time permits, or in a subsequent class, students could also collaboratively design and construct a robot in small groups. Groups could present to the wider class about their goal, any challenges, their collaboration and the outcome.