Background 
Information 
for Teachers

Before Lesson
• Post Learning Goals and Success Criteria for this lesson after the Human 

Knot activity. 

• Be prepared to share your own stories and experiences about a time in 

your life when you showed Perseverance.

• Have the Anecdotal Observation Template (BLM #2) ready on a clipboard 

to use while students are working collaboratively. 

Step A:
Assessment
as Learning

ACTIVATING SCHEMA;
ORAL DISCUSSION AND DOCUMENTATION OF THINKING 

Teacher Talk: Explain the “rules” for this game (do not give the context 

ahead of the activity).

Human Knot: The group starts out in one or two tight circles. Everyone in the 

group reaches across the circle with their right hand to grab another group 

member’s right hand. Then everyone reaches in with their left hand to grab 

a different group member’s left hand. The object is to untangle the group 

without letting go of hands until a circle is formed. If the group is having 

extreme difficulty, you can administer “knot first-aid” and break one set of 

tangled hands (with group consensus), otherwise group members may not 

let go at any time. You may have to decide as a group that the knot is not 

solvable, after prolonged attempt. Note: You can have the group do this 

without talking, if they are advanced enough.

Teacher Talk: How was the activity? What were the difficulties? What would 

have happened if everyone just gave up? How did having even just one 

or two people not give up affect the outcome? What words would you use 

to describe what you needed to do to solve it? (Possible responses are 

“Perseverance,” “working together,” “listening to others’ ideas,” etc.)

We are going to now focus on Perseverance. What does this word mean to 

you? How would you describe or define this word? 

Anchor Chart: On chart paper or whiteboard, record student answers as 

they share. Possible responses are “not giving up”; “continued effort to do 

or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition”; “the quality 

that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is 

difficult”; etc.

Black Canadian Curriculum – Intermediate – ETFO – 2014