Perseverance Activities for Kids: I Can Try Again
This session includes perseverance activities for kids, helping students practice Switching Tracks when a plan does not work out. Through a short video, a discussion about what to do when a class project keeps falling apart, and a quick game where they name ideas around the circle, students explore ways to stay steady and try again. The takeaway is that a change of plan is a chance to think of something new.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Executive Functioning
- Grade level
- Elementary School
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video modeling lessonI Can Try Again
The concept of Switching Tracks is used in this video lesson to help learners practice resilience and try again, even when things don't go according to plan.
- Extension activity
Executive Functioning
The BINGO EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS GAME enables players to apply a variety of executive functioning skills in different scenarios, including observing a video scene, role-playing or practicing specific skills in real time. Play digitally or print out cards, for individual games or groups and teams!
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Hot Cocoa Breathing2:05
- Video: Daily Intention2:59
- Video: Body Squeeze2:12
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What does it mean to switch tracks?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned how to switch tracks when something is hard or does not go the way they planned. They practiced staying calm, thinking positively, and making a new plan so they could try again instead of giving up.
Key Terms
- Switching Tracks
- When a plan, person, or place changes, you stay calm and move to the new plan, like a train jumping to a new track. You take deep breaths, find one good thing about the change, and keep going.
- Positive Thinking
- Telling yourself helpful, hopeful thoughts when something feels hard, like "I can keep trying" instead of "I give up." It helps you stay calm and find a way to keep going.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Executive Functioning
Given a multi-step task, learner will use at least one self-selected organizational strategy (e.g., visual planner, breaking the task into steps, visual timer) to initiate and work through the task with decreasing adult support in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
At home or in the classroom, when a student hits a bump and feels frustrated, try saying "It is okay, you can try again" and helping them think of one new way to approach it. Naming the moment makes the new plan feel possible.
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More Self-Regulation Activities
Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on I Can Try Again is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for elementary school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on I Can Try Again, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Executive Functioning.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, executive functioning.
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