This introduction character building lesson about perseverance provides the building block for teaching kids about this important trait. Kids learn perseverance through life experience, but parents can also be intentional about teaching grit.
You have discovered my character building education series. Here you will discover 52 different character traits to work on with kids, one for each week of the year. Explore all of the character qualities we work on here.
After you have participated in this initial lesson, click on my perseverance tab to discover all of the other lessons, activities and resources available. As you will discover, there are enough lessons that you could be working on character with your kids every single day of the year.
Introduction Character Building Lesson About Perseverance
While this series is written by a Christian mom, there are lessons available no mater what your faith. If you believe it is important to teach your kids to persevere, you are in the right place.
Subject: Perseverance
Objective: Kids will learn the meaning of perseverance and learn a Bible verse about this topic. They will begin to understand why it is important to have perseverance.
Perseverance Verse
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV
The scripture above is the memory verse for our character building week about perseverance. Work daily on this verse so kids can commit it to memory, thus writing the Word of the Lord on their heart.
Perseverance Definition
Read the following definition to your kids:
per·se·ver·ance meaning [pur-suh-veer-uhns] – noun 1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2. Theology . continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
More words for perseverance include: grit, determination, tenacity
Ask the following question:
- What are some examples of how people demonstrate perseverance?
- Why is it important to learn how to persevere?
- What are ways that you have shown perseverance?
Reason Perseverance was Chosen
My perseverance week is intended to be the first lessons in the new year. We are all used to making New Year’s Resolutions. Unfortunately, we are also used to breaking them.
Accomplishing our goals only comes through perseverance. I want my children to be ones that can accomplish the tasks set before them.
As I found the definition of perseverance online, I fell more in love with the description in the Biblical sense, “continuance in a state of grace,” realizing that as a mama I need to both give and receive that grace more openly.
It has found that grit or tenacity or perseverance is one of the leading predictors of success. We need our kids to understand the value of hard work and sticking with things.
Character Building Activity: Creating a Word Ring for Perseverance
At the beginning of each week of lessons, the craft will be exactly the same because we will simply be adding a new word to our already established word ring. As with all the 52 words we are working on for the year, the first task will be making a word card for our word ring and learning the Bible verse.
Materials Needed to Make Word Ring for Perseverance
How to Make a Word Ring for Perseverance -Character Building Activity
Have your kids chose a paper style and sticker letter they think will look good together. Then, have them sound out the word “perseverance.”
My kids took turns finding the letters we needed and sticking them on the paper…they’re kids – the letters will not be stuck on perfect.
Assist kids in cutting the paper to 9.5 x 3 inches.
Next, punch a hole in the corner and place the word paper on your binder ring.
Each week, a new word will be added to the clip in similar fashion.
Next, write the Bible verse on the back. I did this for my kids since they were still young. If your kids are older, have them do it themselves.
The is the first day of our perseverance week. We will spend this week learning the word, meaning and memorizing the scripture. There will be supporting lessons and activities to help develop grit in children.
Note: This post was originally written in 2012, but it has been updated with better formatting and description for the reader’s benefit.
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