Perseverance and Empowerment

Overview

Unit: Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship (Lesson 5 of 5)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 9 students
Year group: Year 7 (age 11-12)
National Curriculum links: English – Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening
Focus: Developing understanding of perseverance and empowerment through literature, vocabulary, speaking and listening skills, and personal reflection

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National Curriculum Links

• Reading (KS3 Programme of Study: Year 7)
  • Understand and respond to texts, attending to explicit and implicit meanings.
  • Identify and consider different interpretations of a text.
  • Explain and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, to achieve effects and influence readers.
• Speaking and Listening
  • Prepare and deliver presentations, including storytelling and role-play.
  • Listen and respond appropriately to others, asking relevant questions.
  • Use spoken language to develop understanding through imagining and exploring ideas.
• Spoken language vocabulary development
  • Develop a rich and varied vocabulary through exposure to and use of key topic-related words.

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Learning Objectives

Level	Objective
Secure	I can explain how perseverance leads to success.
Developing	I can describe a time I persevered.
Emerging	I can identify a challenge I can overcome.

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Resources

• Copies of One Hen story extracts or summary sheets (written text/visuals)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Vocabulary cards: perseverance, empowerment, change
• Role-play scenario cards - challenges relevant to entrepreneurship and personal growth
• Student reflection sheets (journaling templates)
• Timer/stopwatch

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter – Vocabulary Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Write the three key words on the board: perseverance, empowerment, change.
• Ask students to share any prior knowledge or examples of these words in their own lives (prompt if needed).
• Show vocabulary cards with definitions written in simple language:
  • Perseverance: keeping going even when things are hard
  • Empowerment: feeling confident and able to make a change
  • Change: making something different happen
• Students repeat the words aloud and use them in a sentence in pairs (monitor for correct usage).

National Curriculum link: Speaking & Listening - participate in discussions to clarify understanding (KS3 English).

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2. Main Activity Part 1 – Exploring ‘One Hen’ and Perseverance (15 minutes)

• Briefly summarise or read aloud a key passage from One Hen demonstrating how a character shows perseverance to achieve success.
• Use guided questions to explore:
  • What challenges did the character face?
  • How did they keep trying even when it was difficult?
  • What role did empowerment play in their journey?
• Students discuss their ideas in trios, then share key points with the class.
• Write keywords and phrases on the board (explicit and implicit evidence).

National Curriculum link: Reading – explain and evaluate how authors use language to show character traits and themes (KS3 English).

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3. Main Activity Part 2 – Role-Play: Overcoming Challenges (15 minutes)

• Introduce role-play as a way to explore perseverance and empowerment in action.
• Give each pair a scenario card representing a challenge (e.g. starting a small business, learning a new skill, facing a setback).
• Students prepare and perform a short role-play (2-3 minutes) showing:
  • The challenge faced
  • How the character chooses to persevere
  • The feeling of empowerment and effect of change at the end
• After each role-play, class briefly discusses: what perseverance looked like in the role-play and the change that occurred.

National Curriculum link: Speaking & Listening – participate in role-plays and drama activities to explore ideas (KS3 English).

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4. Plenary – Personal Reflection and Sharing (10 minutes)

• Hand out reflection sheets with prompts:
  • Describe a time when you persevered at something difficult (Developing level).
  • Identify a challenge you think you could overcome if you keep trying (Emerging level).
  • Explain how persevering might help you achieve success in the future (Secure level).
• Students write independently and may share their answers aloud or in pairs.
• Teacher gives positive feedback, highlighting use of vocabulary and depth of reflection.

National Curriculum link: Writing – develop imaginative and personal responses; Speaking & Listening – articulate ideas and experiences (KS3 English).

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Assessment

• Formative:

  • Observation of participation and use of vocabulary in starter and discussions.
  • Listen for understanding in role-play performances and peer feedback.
  • Review reflection sheets to check understanding of perseverance and empowerment based on learning objectives.

• Self-Assessment:

  • Students assess themselves against emerging, developing, or secure statements (simple thumbs up / down or traffic light system).

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Support: Provide pre-written sentence starters and vocabulary sheets for students who need extra help expressing ideas.
• Challenge: Encourage secure-level students to creatively expand on how perseverance can influence wider social or entrepreneurial change.
• Engagement: Use varied sensory input (story, discussion, drama, writing) to cater to diverse learning styles.
• Small class size advantage: Targeted individual support and encouragement during activities.

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Extensions and Homework

• Extension task: Students research a real-life young entrepreneur or individual who has shown perseverance and write a short summary to share with the class.
• Homework: Write a diary entry imagining you are the character from One Hen after their success, explaining their journey and feelings.

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This lesson is designed to build on the previous lessons in the unit by merging literacy skills with personal and social development, actively engaging Year 7 learners in meaningful and age-appropriate ways, fully aligned with the National Curriculum for England.