No matter how great or small, challenges and setbacks are part of life. While it is natural to find them intimidating and getting in the way of happiness, life’s journey should not be about running away from them. Living life to the fullest is about making way for joy and success by embracing problems as opportunities for growth and learning.
That is the focus of this evidence-based SEL lesson: to teach kindergarten students how to make their own happiness and victories by turning life’s problems into opportunities. The lesson uses a short story, engaging materials, and immersive activities to ensure a fun and memorable learning experience.
The short story follows the jungle and forest animal protagonists climbing Mount Self-Improvement to reach their kingdom’s Castle Self-Concept. Their goal in this adventure is to achieve long-lasting happiness and health, which can only be attained by following this journey and becoming better versions of themselves.
Throughout their climb, the protagonists face many challenges: exhaustion, narrow paths, rocky places, and sheer cliffs. Despite these, the animals push through, stay motivated, and remain strong. Their secret to great fortitude? Teamwork and problem-solving skills.
"That is the focus of this evidence-based SEL lesson: to teach kindergarten students how to make their own happiness and victories by turning life’s problems into opportunities."
The beloved animal characters are confident in overcoming whatever roadblocks stand in their way as long as they stay together and help each other. From this story, kindergarten students learn that the protagonists do not view problems as hindrances to their success but as opportunities to collaborate and strengthen their relationships.
To reinforce this essential lesson, two role-play activities are prepared. Here, students participate and take the roles of their favorite characters.
In the first role-play activity, the students embody the strengths and weaknesses of their animal characters. They enact what they can do to reach the top of the cliff. In the second role-playing activity, the students demonstrate what they would do with their strengths to help each other.
For instance, the student who takes the role of Abbot Rabbit enacts jumping high to reach the top of the cliff. Meanwhile, the student who plays Miska Monkey helps others who cannot climb well.
The lesson concludes with these activities, teaching students that teamwork, positive thinking, and problem-solving are essential in turning any problem into a chance to improve and reach new heights.
Success and betterment do not follow a perfectly paved path where everything falls right into place. In this journey, like the animals’ climb, mistakes and problems are integral to the process.
Teachers can empower students to embrace setbacks as second chances or stepping stones toward success. In doing so, they raise their students to be resilient and respond positively to problems.
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