Y5/6 (A): Lesson 3: Embracing failure

Understanding that failure is a normal part of life and that we must not give up if something does not go according to plan.

Free trial

New statutory RSHE guidance is here. We’re creating our brand new RSE & PSHE scheme ready for September 2026. Learn more
  1. Subjects >
  2. RSE & PSHE >
  3. Mixed-age >
  4. Y5/6 (A): Health and wellbeing >
  5. Y5/6 (A): Lesson 3: Embracing failure

Learning objective

  • To understand the purpose of failure

Statutory guidance

  • Pupils should know that mental wellbeing is a normal part of daily life, in the same way as physical health.

Success criteria

Log in Sign up

Cross-curricular links

Log in Sign up

Before the lesson

Log in Sign up

Attention grabber

Log in Sign up

Main event

Log in Sign up

Differentiation

Please note: Able mathematicians may require an alternative to a maths puzzle in order to experience failure; try Word logic puzzles.

 

Pupils needing extra support: May need to work with a partner. Might need to speak to an adult about the emotional experience that comes with failure and strategies to manage these so that they are ready to try again. Please be aware this support might be needed for children who normally find learning easy as this might be the first time they have experienced failure.

Pupils working at greater depth: Should be challenged to describe how this trial and error approach could be used in other areas of life. It is important in this lesson that all pupils struggle and fail in order to learn from that experience.

Wrapping up

Log in Sign up

Assessing pupils’ understanding and progress

Log in Sign up

Vocabulary

Log in Sign up

In this topic

Created by:
Sarah Huggins,  
RSE & PSHE specialist
Sarah has over 20 years’ experience in education. Starting as a Primary teacher, Sarah then moved into an advisory role that covered both PSHE education and Citizenship. She delivers courses for teachers, as well as sessions for children and young…
Find out more
Y5/6 (A): Lesson 2: The importance of rest Previous Lesson
Y5/6 (A): Lesson 4: Going for goals Next Lesson

Related content

Please don’t screenshot or copy images from this page.
Kapow Primary resources are created by teachers and protected by copyright. Copying images or slides into your own presentations (for example using the Snipping Tool) counts as reproducing the resource and isn’t permitted under the Kapow licence.
This resource is being accessed through your school’s Kapow licence.
Thank you for respecting the work of the teachers who create these materials.