Here is a 30- to 40-minute lesson plan that highlights the following lesson objective: “Understand that when one perseveres, great things can be accomplished; if one gives up when things begin to get difficult, nothing great would ever be accomplished.” (Character Building: Social Skills: Perseverance-2a)

Read “Follow Your Dreams.”

Discuss how following your dreams can seem fun and exciting, and for the most part it will be, but that with almost anything you set your mind to do, you need perseverance and endurance to see it through. No matter how excited you feel at the start of something, often, at some point, you will be challenged and could become tired or discouraged. If you are to see something through to the end, you need to expect it will get difficult, but determine that you’ll persevere? and find a way, or come up with a plan to get out of the dip and push forward.

Watch “Katie Discovers the Dip.”

Ask your children if they think Katie is in the dip, and how they think she will make it past the dip. Go further and ask your children if they can think of a recent dip they have encountered. It doesn’t have to be a big one. It could be something they feel discouraged about or stuck in. Or if they can’t think of one, you can offer to talk about one from your own life. Recognizing that you are in a dip is the first step, but what are some steps to helping you get out of it?

Read “Sticking to the Job = Success!”

Discuss how commitment is a huge part of seeing something through to success. Additionally, asking Jesus to help you commit to something—to see it through to the end—will help you to get past the difficulties or obstacles that sometimes make your goals seem way too complicated. But sometimes you can get stuck and not know how to move forward. When that happens, you need to learn how to reflect. Reflection plays a big part in helping you determine what you need in order to get unstuck.

Watch “Climbing Out of the Dip.”

Take time to reflect. Now go back to that recent dip your child told you about, or the example you used of a recent dip you went through. Take the time to reflect on it and see what ideas for solutions you come up with on how to climb out of the dip.

Talk about how faith helps you persevere in seeing something to the end. Relying on an extra boost of God’s power can help you climb out of the dips you find yourselves in. You have to believe that you can, and also believe that God can help you see something through to the end. If you find it helpful, tell the child one of your own such experiences.

Read and discuss the verses in “Crazily Cool Card Set: Faith—Stand On It.” Talk about how these verses can instill faith and renew inspiration to continue on no matter how gloomy your child may feel about something. (If you haven’t yet done so, you can print out this page to cut out the cards and color one or all of them.)

Additional material:

• “Staying Power”
• “Good Lasting Habits”