Psychological Corollary

When a person succeeds on a task because of effort exerted, he or she will be willing to exert effort on future tasks.

Lesson Objective

Students will be able to give examples of personal success that encourage further effort. For example, getting a good grade on one paper encourages a person to put forth effort the next time.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

Social Vocabulary

• breeds
• “success breeds success”

Other Vocabulary

• finals

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

• Write "success breeds success" on the board.
• Ask students what "success breeds success" means; is a "winning streak" in sports an example?
• Introduce vocabulary.

Group Use of Student Workbook

• Have students look at the first cartoon frame in the lesson. Lee is on his first construction job.
• What is the foreman saying to Lee on his first job?
• What does the foreman think of Lee's work?
• How do you think Lee feels right then?
• Look at the second picture on the page. The new foreman wonders if Lee can handle the job. He needs someone who works really hard. Why can Lee handle this job?
• Ask students what Lee might say to convince the foreman that he can do the job.
• Look at the guy working at the desk.
• What grade did he get last time?
• Will he try hard this time, too?
• What gives him the energy - or motivation - to try hard this time?
• Does he expect success? Why or why not?
• Look at the girl
• Does she expect success?
• Why or why not?
• Complete the worksheet exercises.

Behavior Development Activity

To encourage students to recognize the importance of hard work and effort, and want to work hard:

• Ask students to list three things they have done well in the last year.
• Ask the students to circle one success they would be willing to share with the class.
• Ask the students the following questions about that one success:
• What were three difficult things you had to do in order to achieve this success?
• What else did you have to do to succeed?
• Did you think you would succeed when you began?
• Why or why not?
• How did you feel after you were successful?
• Did it make you feel more confident in doing other things?
• Ask students to think about what they have learned concerning effort and success. Give students the following situation:
• Your friend is eager to learn how to succeed. You are going to tell him or her what you know.
• Imagine that you are going to send a text message to your friend telling what you know about achieving success. Think about what you want to say. (Remember, a text message must be short and to the point.) Then write your message in 25 words or less.
• Note that non-writers could record a video on the same topic.
• Have students share their messages with the class.
• Alternative activity: As a class, write a text message with the main message of this lesson (e.g., "success encourages people to try"; "success breeds success").
• Discuss why all effort is valuable.

Review

• Ask students to identify two examples of success that would encourage further effort.
• Winning a race encourages you to continue to compete.
• Doing well on an exam for which you studied hard encourages you to study for other exams.
• Ask students to explain in their own words what "success breeds success” means (I.e., success helps us achieve more success).