Stories of Resilience
How can we use stories of other people’s resilience and apply it to our own lives?
Questions we need to answer:
- What drives the choices we make?
- What is resilience?
- Who has been resilient in history or in our own lives?
- How can we be resilient in our own lives?
Getting starting with some powerful poetry:
WATCH: Amanda Gorman reads inauguration poem, ‘The Hill We Climb’
“The Rose That Grew From Concrete” by Tupac Shakur
The Rose That Grew From Concrete Text
The Rose that grew from Concrete
The Rose That Grew From The Concrete.
Reflection Questions:
What do you think is the intended message of the poem? What is the author ‘backtalking’?
Break down this poem by line. How can it be seen as a metaphor for the author’s life?
Project Criteria:
Your assignment includes 3 tasks (see hand-out attached below, Resilience Cumb 2025)
Assessment:
| CATEGORY | Novice | Apprentice | Journeyman | Master |
| Response to questions
Please note: answers such as “I don’t know” or having no answer will result in a mark of zero. All students are expected to respond to their learning. |
10-11
The student has not answered the questions adequately. Responses are short or limited and show minimal awareness of achievement in their learning. Very little effort, no creativity and assignment, a re-do |
12-15
The student appears to have taken some time to answer the questions. Responses are clear and show some awareness of personal achievement in their learning. Work shoes some effort and a little creativity. |
16-17
The student has taken the time to answer the questions. Responses are detailed and thoughtful and show good awareness of personal achievement in their learning. Work shows good effort and some creativity. |
18-20
The student has clearly taken the time to answer the questions. Responses are extremely detailed and thoughtful and show strong awareness of personal achievement in their learning. Work shows superior effort and creativity. |
TASK ONE:
Handout – Definition and Attributes of Resilience (you will refer to the characteristics of resilience handout throughout this unit)
Quick Write: Describe a time in your life when you had to be resilient. What attributes did you draw on?
TASK TWO: Biography Timeline & Responses to 4 Big Questions
- We have watched some stories of resilience together: Ruby Bridges, Anne Frank, Nelson Mandela, Temple Grandin, Jackie Robinson, Marie Curie, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousufzai etc.
- Choose a resilience story (someone in history or in your own lives) to share with the class. *It should be someone who inspires you.
For ideas for your projects see:
(i). Create a timeline using PowerPoint or other.
Timeline Criteria:
• Title Slide
• A minimum of 6 more slides – each slide must include a date and a small description
• Slides showcase important life details
• Timeline is in chronological order
• Images are included with each slide
• Written in your own words, edit for punctuation, spelling, grammar
1. What challenge(s) did the people/person face and how did they overcome this challenge?
2.How did overcoming this struggle help make the people/person stronger?
3. What characteristics helped make the people/person resilient? *Use the 17 attributes of resilience
4. What struck you about the stories of resilience you saw or heard about? What lasting questions, insights, or reflections did they leave you with?
Task 3:
For this you have a choice of a 30 Day Challenge.
Courage to try something new, what will you do?
Songs of Resilience: (class vote :)