1. Persistence and Optimism Objectives: * Comprehend the concept of “Persistence” and “Optimism” as two of the Emotional Intelligence scales, and develop and understanding of the concept through role plays.

2. Everybody up! Let’s hear our song/ cheer!

3. Let’s starting looking at the individual scales. The first one is Interpersonal Skills. Interpersonal Skills is a joint scale, which combines two of the other scales: empathy & social skills. We will talk about Interpersonal Skills when we look at those two. So for now, let’s get on the the “P”: Persistence.

4. Persistence Need a volunteer to write stuff down for us. Tell me what persistence means? What situations can you think of where you need persistence?

5. Discussion What happens to a person who has low persistence? What happens to a person with high persistence?

6. Think about what this means… “Persistence is directly tied to an internal drive to stick with something.” “An internal drive” … what is that? “To stick with something” …what does that mean?

7. Choices and Consequences What are some of the major choices you will make in your life in the next five or six years, and what will happen if you have low persistence? Examples: –High school: low persistence = drop out or don’t finish, then a low-paying job. –College: low persistence = drop out or don’t finish –Job: low persistence = get fired or no promotions, poor, can’t pay bills. –Marriage: low persistence = divorce

8. Choices and Consequences What are some of the major choices you will make in your life in the next five or six years? Jot down in the margin of your student manual 2 choices you will be making in this time period. Turn to your neighbor and tell them.

9. Choices and Consequences What will happen if you have low persistence? Jot down in the margin of your student manual what will happen. Turn to your neighbor and tell them. What other areas of your life can you think of where persistence is important to your success?

10. Role Play Actors If you have an orange stick, you will act the role play showing LOW persistence. If you have a green stick, you will act the role play showing HIGH persistence.

11. Role Plays Doing homework. (1) Doing chores. (2) Training for and practicing a skill or a sport. (3) Training a pet. (4) Deciding to do or accomplish something in the face of taunts from peers. (5)

12. Optimism Need another volunteer to write stuff down for us. What does optimism mean? What situations can you think of where you would need optimism?

13. Discussion What’s the opposite of being optimistic? What happens to a person who is pessimistic? What happens to a person who is optimistic?

14. Think about what this means… Optimism is an internally- driven ability to be positive in the face of adversity or struggle. It means a person can choose and act in a positive way even when things are tough.

15. What does Optimism look like? Think of some people who are not positive. What effect has it had on their lives?

16. What does Optimism look like? Being optimistic makes a tremendous difference in your performance also! Think of what a difference being optimistic would make if you were employed in a job. What would be the difference in that situation? …if you were an athlete? …if you had all optimistic teachers? Can you see the difference optimism makes in a person’s life?

17. Role Play Actors If you have a black stick, you will be pessimistic in your approach. If you have a blue stick, you will be optimistic in your approach..

18. Role Plays A sports event coming up. (1) A music event you are practicing for. (2) Studying for a test. (3) Meeting someone new. (4)

19. Read Lesson 14 Choose 1 story: Answer the above question on a white piece of paper; then we’ll commit, toss, and read. WRITE IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT: “I chose the story about _________. It shows (P or O) because __________.” How do these stories illustrate Persistence and/or Optimism?