Lessons - Special Olympics

“A rewarding
life is filled with
challenge, so
do not pity
me. Give me a
chance!”
Thomas Gatu, Special
Olympics Athlete
Activity 2:
the Meaning of Perseverance
Cross-Curricular Connections:
This lesson can also be incorporated into the health and physical education
curriculum to promote teamwork and increase behaviors associated with
perseverance.
Academic Skills Addressed:
• Using critical thinking to analyze texts, including identifying and evaluating
multiple perspectives;
• Recognizing relationships between and among texts (fable, nonfiction);
• Making connections between literature and real-life experiences — e.g.,
identifying issues of significance within the text and generating open-ended
questions about the text and its personal relevance;
• Predicting events and meaning in texts before and during interactive reading;
• Discovering patterns and relationships among ideas and characteristics;
• Developing reading comprehension strategies through a teacher model of
thinking aloud and asking questions;
• Creating imaginative texts using strategies to contribute to collaborative
projects — e.g., finding relationships among ideas generated by the group and
exploring the ideas of others; and
• Conveying meaning through text content and design.
Desired Outcomes:
Students will:
• Define perseverance and cite examples of situations that require perseverance.
• Identify specific words and language that is encouraging to others.
• Demonstrate recognition that Special Olympics athletes often have to work
harder and longer to learn new skills and that they demonstrate perseverance.
Time Required:
Two 45- to 60-minute class periods, with additional time for reflection.
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