Lesson Plan: Canʼt Stop Trying

Powerfully Teaching Your Children Gospel Principles Lesson Plan: Canʼt Stop Trying Objectives: Reinforces Principles of: Emphasize the importance of righteous persistence. Persistence Talk about how it takes persistence to stay on the path to eternal life. Diligence Each lesson contains 5 timed activities: (Choose the activities that fit your familyʼs schedule. Additional resources are provided as extra time may be available.) Reverence Time: Song, prayer, scripture and video clip Lesson Time: Lesson summary and points to ponder Story Time: Story Activity Time: Object lesson or activity Treat Time: Prayer, theme related recipe & music video

Approximate Time: 5 minutes Sing Together: Childrenʼs Songbook #167 Go the Second Mile verse #1 2. If you wish to have an online music file to accompany you visit: http://www.lds.org/churchmusic (Note: Navigate to the Interactive Church Music Player where you can listen to and print Church hymns and childrenʼs songs.) Prayer: Scripture Time Alma 32:43 43. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. Video Clip: Watch chapter 10 from the animated Complete Learning System, The Wright Brothers DVD. (Video clip is also provided for viewing online.)

Lesson Summary: Approximate Time: 10-15 minutes (For younger children, it may be helpful to summarize the following ideas): Line upon line, precept upon precept. The Wright brothers committed themselves to do what no one else had ever done before. They took time to do their homework. They were humble and smart enough to appreciate and learn about the work of others who went before. And they tackled the problem line upon line, precept upon precept. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Liahona, July 2006, 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Going the second mile. We ought to use our talents to benefit man and in so doing, benefit God...We can do nothing better than to honor God and do it through our life and works. Choose to follow this course in life by going the second mile, and he will honor you. The great men and women in history have been those willing to go the second mileʼ (Beverly Chiodo, Vital Speeches of the Day, 1 Nov. 1987, p. 42). Vaughn J. Featherstone, New Era, May 1990 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Inspiration and guidance from the Spirit of the Lord All intelligence comes from God, and anyone whose mind is opened to the development of inventions for the benefit and blessing of mankind receives that light and truth through study, through research, through inspiration and guidance from the Spirit of the Lord, whether that individual be a Morse, an Edison, an Alexander Graham Bell, an Orville or Wilbur Wright, or whoever he may be. Joseph Anderson, Ensign, Jan. 1973, 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Work diligently throughout life. Like Orville and Wilbur Wright, Heber J. Grant worked diligently throughout his life, to improve himself. He believed that ʻevery individual can improve from day to day, from year to year, and have greater capacity to do things as the years come and the years go.ʼ He became known for his persistence, and it was said of him that ʻhe never criticized other menʼs weaknesses but made war on his own.ʼ Bryant S. Hinckley, Heber J. Grant: Highlights in the Life of a Great Leader (1951), 50. 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Points to Ponder: How can righteous persistence help us in our lives? Persistence in the pursuit of righteous desires can help us develop talents, attain our spiritual goals, and serve others. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant Can persistence help us accomplish worthwhile goals? Heber J. Grant said, I believe that we can accomplish any object that we make up our minds to, and no boy or girl ought to sit down and say, because they cannot do as well as somebody else, that they will not do anything. God has given to some people ten talents; to others, he has given one; but they who improve the one talent will live to see the day when they will far outshine those who have ten talents but fail to improve them. Improvement Era, July 1901, 684 85, Improvement Era, July 1901, 684 85 President Heber J. Grant often quoted the following statement, which is sometimes attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson: That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased.ʼ Gospel Standards, 355. 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Does it take persistence to stay on the path that leads to eternal life? It requires a constant effort on the part of each and every one of us to make a success of our lives. It requires no effort at all to roll down the hill, but it does require an effort to climb the hill to the summit. It needs no effort to walk in the broad way that leads to destruction; but it needs an effort to keep in the straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant, 4 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Do you think that Orville and Wilbur sought the Lordʼs help while inventing the first successful airplane? Orville and Wilbur Wrightʼs parents encouraged religion, family values and education. Why do you think the Lord helped and continues to help inventors like Orville and Wilbur Wright? 100 years ago, people still traveled by horse and buggy...there has been an explosion of secular knowledge. I believe that God has opened up these treasures of intelligence to enhance His purposes on the earth... Advances in travel and communication have helped the institutional Church move forward at a rapid pace in proclaiming the gospel. James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1999 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Quotes: I know of no easy formula to success. Persist, persist, PERSIST; work, work, WORK is what counts in the battle of life. Heber J. Grant Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it; so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success? A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed a hopeless failure may turn into a glorious success. Author unknown

Approximate Time: 2 minutes 1st Lt. Justin Bently looked back on his childhood, remembering the first time he expressed the desire to become a pilot. What do you want to be when youʼre grown? Father had asked the children during an F.H.E. lesson. Iʼm gonna fwy airpwanes, just like Gwampa! answered three-year-old Justin. Justin was jolted back from his thoughts by the boom of the Brigadier Generalʼs voice in the adjacent room as he addressed this years new class of cadets, You know how tough it was to get into the Academy; well itʼs even tougher to make it through to graduation, but I promise you it is worth every bit of the effort. Justin knew that the new cadets were feeling a roller coaster of emotions excitement, pride, fear, panic, and everything in between. It had been extremely tough to make it to graduation and Justin had relied heavily on the Lord for guidance and strength to make it through. While you are attending this academy you will be expected to show character. This academy defines character as ʻQualities of moral excellence which compel a person to do the right things despite pressure or temptations to the contrary,ʼ the Brigadier General continued. Justin was thankful that he had been brought up in a home that expected this same code of character. Many of his classmates hadnʼt made it to graduation because of their lack of character. Drifting back again to his childhood, Justin remembered his Fatherʼs counsel, Grandpa would be proud to have you follow in his footsteps. It wonʼt be easy to become an Air Force pilot. It takes hard work and you will have to learn to be persistent, but with Heavenly Fatherʼs help you can reach that goal. After the lunch break, Justin had the opportunity to address the new cadets. Iʼm Lt. Justin Bently. Iʼm from North Carolina. My first inclination to be a pilot was when I was three years old and my Grandfather took me to the Wright Brothers Memorial museum. After that all I wanted to do was fly. The eager cadets applauded loudly.

Iʼm sure many of you have dreamed of becoming an Air Force pilot since you were knee high to a bugʼs eye as well. Iʼm here to tell you that today that dream begins to become a reality! Justin continued, My parents taught me at a young age to set goals and be persistent in reaching them. My Father would say, ʻJustin, when you fall down you get back up. When youʼre pushed back, you push forward even harder. When you feel like something is beyond your grasp, you need to reach further.ʼ I know you all have been persistent in reaching your goals or you wouldnʼt be here today. Again the room was filled with applause. As a cadet at this academy you all are in for an experience found nowhere else. You will learn things you wonʼt find in any classroom. Youʼll learn how to push yourself to the limits. Youʼll develop your strength and character as a human being. Youʼll discover what youʼre made of. Justinʼs voice boomed with enthusiasm, If you are persistent and work hard, I promise you will learn the skills you need to succeed as an officer in the United States Air Force. So take my Daddyʼs advice and be persistent in all that you do that is worthwhile! by Margie Nauta Lee Living Scriptures Inc. 2006

What you need: Preparation Activity: A copy of The First Powered Airplane model pattern and directions (artwork included with this lesson), scissors, and glue and or tape. 1. Print out the artwork for each group. 2. Cut out each part and place in a pile for each group. (Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.) 1. Divide the family into groups. 2. Explain that there were many inventors throughout history that tried to invent the first powered airplane. Ask: What characteristics do you think the Wright Brothers possessed that allowed them to invent the first powered airplane? (Persistence, faith, talent, determination, hard working, ambition, prayer, etc...) 3. Ask each group to pretend that they are inventors in the early 1900s who have seen a vision of the first powered airplane (show picture of The First Powered Airplane model) and they are going to try to build it. 4. Give each group their parts. Ask the following questions: A. What would be the first thing you would do before you tried to build an airplane? (Pray for guidance.) B. Do you think that Heavenly Father told Orville and Wilbur Wright exactly how to build the airplane? (No. He gave them guidance, but they had to be persistent, and work hard and through trial and error they were able to perfect it.) C. Do you think they had to pray more than once? (Yes. Many times.) D. Can you build this airplane without any help? (No. We need directions.) 5. Give each group the first page of directions and explain that if they need more directions they can ask you for more direction, but they also have to be innovative and persistent, because the directions do not show exactly how to build the plane. (Give another sheet of directions each time they ask for more. Remind them to look at the picture for help and that each groupʼs plane might be a little different as they come up with their own way to build it.) 6. After they are done talk about their feelings while building. (Frustrated, excited, discouraged, happy, etc...) 7. Talk about and encourage your family that no matter what they are righteously doing to remember to pray for guidance, be persistent and never give up.

Fold parts E (wing struts), F (tail rudder), G (skid struts), I (tail assembly upper strap), & J (elevator straps) lengthwise along center black line with print side out. Glue together. See Diagram (1). Set I & J aside. Diagram (1) Fold (E, F, & G) along black solid lines. Glue ends together to form a 3-D box. See Diagram (2). Set E, F, & G aside. Diagram (2) Fold H (skids) into thirds lengthwise with print side out. Glue together. See Diagram (3). (blunt end) Set H aside. Diagram (3) (pointed end) Fold parts C (upper elevator) and D (lower elevator) along center with printed side out. Glue together. Cut along red lines. See Diagram (4). Set C & D aside. Diagram (4) Fold parts K (props) with print side out. Glue together. See Diagram (5). Set K aside. Diagram (5)

Remember to look at your vision (the picture of the finished model) for placement and Never Give Up. Glue E (wing struts) to B (Lower wing). Glue A (Upper wing) to E (wing struts). Tape H (skids) together at blunt end to form a V shape. Glue G (skid struts) to H (skids). Glue A & B (wings) to G (skid struts) with black tabs facing the blunt end of H (skids). Fold the pointed ends of H (skids) up. Slide folded ends of H (skids) through D (lower elevator) and then through C (upper elevator). Glue F (tail) to taped end of H (skids). Glue one end of I (tail strap) to A (upper wing). Glue other end of I (tail strap) to F (tail rudder). Glue one end of J (elevator straps) to bent end of H (skids) just below the D (lower elevator). Glue other end of J (elevator straps) to G (skid struts). Glue K (prop) to black tabs on A & B (wings).

Approximate Time: 15 minutes Prep Time: 30 minutes Gingerbread Planes (This recipe was originally used in the 14th & 15th centuries, and isnʼt anything at all like our modern cake-like variety. It is in fact more like a candy or a confection.) 1/2 lb. honey 1/2 lb. bread crumbs finely ground (either white or wheat, or a combination. Be sure that they are dry and not soft in any way). 2 tsp. Ginger 1 tsp. Cinnamon 3 drops red food coloring Bring the honey to a boil. Keeping the pan over very low heat, add the spices. Add the food coloring. Then begin to slowly stir in the bread crumbs. Add just enough bread to achieve a thick, stiff, well-blended mass (you may not use all of the bread crumbs). Remove from the heat and turn the mixture into a container or bowl to cool. Treat Time: Divide the edible playdough-like mixture into enough pieces for each member of your family. Have each family member invent (mold) their own edible airplane. Closing Prayer and blessing on the food. Video Clip: Watch the Hero Classics Music Video Canʼt Stop Trying DVD (also provided online), while you eat your Gingerbread Planes.