CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Grit – Star Football Player Steps Out of His Comfort Zone

Grit is all about how we persevere through challenges, even when they are outside of our comfort zone.

Grit
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
SEL Skills
  • Relationship Skills
  • Self-Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Curiosity and Passion
  • Diligent Learner

Definitions

Respect
  • Follow the Golden Rule.
  • Be accepting of differences.
  • Be courteous to others.
  • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
  • Be considerate of others’ feelings
Responsibility
  • Do what you are supposed to do. Try your best.
  • Persevere. Keep on trying.
  • Be self-disciplined.
  • Think before you act. Consider the consequences.
  • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes.
Relationship Skills 

Create positive relationships and meaningful connections with family members, classmates, and teachers.

Self-Awareness

Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes.

Curiosity and Passion 

Enthusiastic to understand more about themselves, others, and the world around them.

Diligent Leaner

Have a growth mindset and is willing to learn from mistakes.

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.
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The Ray Center at Drake University
CBS News

Students will explore the concept of grit and how it relates to courage and stepping outside of our comfort zone.

Download Google Slides
activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What is the definition of grit?
    • Grit is courage and determination despite difficulty.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What is something that has stretched you out of your comfort zone?
  • What did Malcolm learn when he stepped outside his comfort zone and joined the book club?
  • How do you think his actions impacted him and the book club’s members?
  • Why must you be courageous enough to get outside your comfort zone like Malcolm? How does he show grit in his actions?
activity

Activity: Rock, Paper, Scissors

  • Pair students up.
  • Students will face their partner with their feet shoulder-width apart for the activity. This is the starting position for the game. Partners will play Rock, Paper, Scissors.
  • Whoever loses the round will take a step back with one foot. This will become their “back foot” and will be the foot they move throughout the game. They will not move their other foot at all.
  • Continue to play. The losing player will deepen their stretch by taking another step back with their back foot.
  • The winner is the one who can remain standing in the broad stretch.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • What was challenging about this game?
    • How did you have to practice grit to try to win the game?
    • How did this game “stretch” you out of your comfort zone? Why is this important?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Draw a picture or write about a time you had to be courageous and step outside your comfort zone.
  • What did you learn about yourself when you were courageous enough to go beyond your comfort zone?

6-12

  • Reflect on a time when you demonstrated grit.
    • What were the challenges, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • Explain why you must demonstrate courage to leave your comfort zone.
  • How does grit relate to courage?
family connection

Family Connection

Educators: Copy the Family Connection and email it to parents, or click here to download a PDF version to email or print.

Watch

Discuss

  • How did Malcolm’s decision to join Kathy’s book club demonstrate courage and a willingness to step out of his comfort zone?
  • Reflecting on Malcolm’s experience, have a family discussion about the various ways each member can challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zones in daily life. How do these experiences contribute to personal growth and strengthen family bonds?

Activity

  • Assign a family stretching activity:
    • Allocate 10 minutes each night for the family to stretch together.
    • Chart the progress weekly to track improvements.
    • After a month, reflect on your progress. Discuss how this activity relates to stepping out of
      comfort zones.

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