The South Dakota Department of Education has developed a new program to encourage the development of life skills. Education Secretary Joe Graves says “South Dakota Sturdy” is ten different lessons crafted to help students develop a sense of responsibility and resilience in their own lives using relatable South Dakota examples. He says lessons talk about sportsmanship, focus, grit, locus of control, self-advocacy, goal setting, initiative and responsibility. Graves says these lessons area designed to be part of a school counseling program or general instruction, but could also serve as a complement to English language arts, social studies and science curricula. He says the lessons, targeted at students in grades 4-6, are available for all public, private, tribal and home-schooled students in South Dakota. Teachers, counselors and parents can access the lessons online on the DOE’s website.