Essential Standard Clarifying Objectives 6.MEH.3 Analyze the relationship between healthy expression of emotions, mental health, and healthy behavior 6.MEH.3.1 Interpret failure in terms of its potential for learning and growth. Materials Needed:
Appendix 1 – Quotation on Taking Risks (written on the board)
Appendix 2 –Abraham Lincoln (optional)
Appendix 3 – copies of “Taking a Risk”
Teacher computer and projector with Internet access
Student computers with Internet access
Review:
Display the Quotation on Taking Risks (Appendix 1), “Progress always involves risk;
you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” Read the quote aloud to the
students; if they struggle with reading, you may want them to read it aloud with you a
second time.
You will have six minutes to answer the following questions. Please be prepared to
discuss with the class.
• What does this quotation mean?
• Why is this quote important?
• How might it apply to your life?
Discuss the following questions with the class:
• What does this quote mean to you?
•
How does it apply to life? [When we have challenges, we risk failing. However, if
we only attempt what we know we can do, then we do not allow ourselves to
succeed.]
Focus:
Option 1
Show Famous Failures (about 1.5 minutes). This is a YouTube video; if it is blocked,
ask the technology specialist to unblock it for this lesson. Be sure to check your
district policy for YouTube.
Ask the student the following questions.
• Were you aware that famous people have experienced many setbacks and
failures?
6.MEH.3.1, page 1 NC School Health Training Center NC Association for the Advancement of Health Education •
Considering all their defeats, why do you think these people kept trying to
achieve their goals?
•
What did all these people have in common? (Despite many setbacks, they all
kept trying)
Option 2
Display the Abraham Lincoln information (Appendix 2). Ask the students the following
questions:
• Were you aware that Abraham Lincoln experienced so many setbacks and
failures in his life?
• Considering all his defeats, why do you think that he kept trying to run for a
political office?
• What do you think one of his strong points might have been? [Despite many
setbacks, Lincoln continued his quest for greatness until he was successful.]
Statement of Objectives:
As you can see, failure is something that happens to everyone—even people who go on
to become very successful. In today’s lesson each of you will be able to recognize
failure as an opportunity for learning. You will be able to respond to failure in healthy
ways.
Teacher Input:
Ask students:
• What are some of the goals that you wish to accomplish in your lifetime?
• When we set a goal, what is the risk involved? (Risk of failure)
Point out to students that when we set goals and work toward them, we have to be
ready to accept some disappointments and even failure. It is impossible to achieve all of
our goals all the time. Even the most successful people, like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas
Edison and Michael Jordan, experience occasional failures. It is a risk that we have to
take to reach our goals. When failure occurs, it is helpful to think about “lessons
learned.” This helps one avoid making the same mistakes, find a better solution, and
move on to more positive results. The ability to accept setbacks gives one the ability to
start again and increases his or her potential to be successful.
For example, even though you work hard, you might not always reach your goals.
(Example: making a sports team or earning the test grade that you want or earning
enough money to buy an item you want) But if you don’t try, you won’t meet any goals.
Failure is a part of every person's life. It is important to understand this so when a
person experiences failure, she or he will overcome the failure and move on. Learning
to handle failures can also give one strength and more of a direction for the future. How
6.MEH.3.1, page 2 NC School Health Training Center NC Association for the Advancement of Health Education a person copes with failure will greatly affect future goals and endeavors. Students
should be aware that sometimes a person might fail before he or she succeeds.
Guided Practice:
Divide students into pairs. Direct each pair to think of a scenario in which the main
character has tried something and failed; then they are to think of a way in which the
situation can lead to a learning moment or growth.
Working at computers, direct students to the website Toon Doo where they are to sign
in and create a cartoon illustrating the scenario they imagined earlier.
Please note that this is a commercial website; while it is free, there are images that can
be purchased. Caution students to only use the free links.
Conclude this activity by emphasizing that all individuals experience temporary setbacks
and failure. Emphasize the importance of positive thinking when he/she experiences
disappointment. If we can think positively when we encounter problems, it can help us
accept setbacks or failure and give us the ability to start again. If the goal we did not
accomplish is something that we really want to do, we must determine what is
necessary to increase our chances of being successful. (Example: Practice our athletic
skills to make the team next year.) Learning how to handle our failures in a positive way
helps us to maintain a healthy self-esteem.
Independent Practice:
Distribute the handout, Taking a Risk, (Appendix 3). Students will generate a list of
activities they are hesitant to attempt or goals they would like to accomplish. Students
will identify strategies to help prepare them for success and then answer the personal
questions.
Once they have completed this handout:
• Solicit student volunteers to share one of their goals and explain how they could
increase the likelihood of achieving success.
• Ask class if there is anything else the volunteers could do to increase their
chances of success.
• Highlight several goals as class examples.
For the personal questions, ask students:
• What can we learn from attempting new experiences?
• What does the quote by George Woodbury mean?
• Is it better to attempt new challenges or be content doing what you know can be
achieved? Why or why not?
6.MEH.3.1, page 3 NC School Health Training Center NC Association for the Advancement of Health Education Closure:
Today we have been discussing ways to cope with failure and to turn it into a learning
and a growing experience. We know that everyone has failures, even famous inventors,
actors, and athletes. You must have the courage to risk failure when you want to learn
new things. Each of you should now be recognize failure as an opportunity for learning.
You should be able to respond to failure in healthy ways. The next time we meet we will
look at setting goals and see how that helps us cope with failure in a healthy way.
6.MEH.3.1, page 4 “Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” 6.MEH.3.1, Appendix 1 Abraham Lincoln's Life
The life of Abraham Lincoln can be seen as a good example of dealing with
failures and regrouping in order to improve one's self-esteem. Below is a list of
dates and corresponding events that give a brief history of Abraham Lincoln' life.
Events in Abraham Lincoln's Life
• 1831 -
He fails in his business.
• 1832 -
He runs for legislature and is defeated. He goes into business
again and fails.
• 1832 -
He suffers a nervous breakdown.
• 1838 -
He runs for Speaker of the House and is defeated.
• 1843 -
He runs for Congress and loses the election.
• 1855 -
He runs for Senate and loses the election.
• 1856 -
He tries for the Vice Presidency, but he is turned down.
• 1858 -
He runs for the Senate and is defeated again.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President during one of the most challenging
times in our nation’s history and is considered today to be the most effective
leader in our country’s history.
6.MEH.3.1, Appendix 2 Taking a Risk
Make a list of activities you would like
to try or goals that you have.
Is there something that you could do to help you
to be successful at this task?
1. Auditioning for the school play.
Practice talking in front of people.
Memorize the lines you will be saying for the
audition.
2.
3.
4.
Have you ever tried something new, even though you were afraid of failing? (Ex: trying out for
band for the first time)
What were some of the feelings you experienced?
Were you successful? Why or why not?
What did you learn from your attempt?
“Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.” -­‐ George E. Woodbury 6.MEH.3.1, Appendix 3