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Keep Trying! | Activities | WTTW Kids Learn & Play

Keep Trying!

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This activity offers students a fun and safe way to practice trial and error. Through a simple game of toss, students will not only be given the opportunity to do better a second time, but to also discuss the challenges they may have faced.

Cartoon child 'spying' fruits and vegetables at the supermarket

Activity Prep

  1. Cut several full-page magazine pictures in half.
  2. For every two children, prepare one cup and ten, small, soft items (such as marshmallows or mini-erasers) to toss that will not injure children.

Activity

  1. Give each child one of the half pages. Have the children find the other half of their picture. The person with the other half of the picture will serve as their partner for the activity.
  2. Give each partner group a cup and ten small, soft items. Have partners sit across from each other so that their knees do not touch (ensuring proper distance so that small items do not stray too far from each set of partners).
  3. In each partner group, give one child the cup and other child the ten, small items.
  4. Tell the students with the items that when you say, “Go,” they should gently underhand toss each of the ten items to their partner with the cup, one item at a time. The goal is to catch all ten items in the cup without dropping any.
  5. After they have played a round, have the children switch roles with their partner and try again.
  6. After round two, repeat, having the children switch roles again.
  7. Lastly, have the children switch roles one more time. When finished, each child should have done both parts of the activity twice.
  8. Collect the items while having a discussion with the children: What was challenging about the task? Did you do better the second time? Why do you think it was easier the second time? What strategies did you use to improve? What lesson did you learn from this exercise today?
  9. Play the “Keep Trying! You’ll Get Better!” clip and remind the children that practice makes you better!

Considerations/Modifications/Extension Activities

  1. For children that need extra help, use additional clips from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood as further examples after watching the clip. (See pbskids.org) The activity could also be done with bigger items, such as stuffed toys and laundry baskets.
  2. For more adventurous children, have the partners sit farther apart or set a shorter amount of time to accomplish the task.

ISBE Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning

  • The child will identify and manage their emotions and behaviors. (1A)
  • The child will recognize personal qualities and external supports. (1B)

Items Needed

  • Photos cut out of magazines (preferably full pages)
  • One cup per pair of children
  • Ten, small, soft items per pair of children (e.g., marshmallows or mini-erasers) to toss that would not cause injury (extra items for backup are a good idea)
  • Projector, TV, or computer with internet access to show clip
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