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Grit

Courage and resolve; Strength of character

  • This workout takes approximately 10 Minutes
  • This workout is for students in Grades 6-8
  • Teacher Resources

Move

  • Type:  Strength
  • Excercise:  Lunges
  • Target:  Thighs + Hips
  • Equipment:  None
Workout guide

Steps

1. Stand in NaliniKIDS posture
2. Step your right foot out about 3 feet in front of you
3. Keep your right foot flat on the floor as you raise your left heel all the way up
4. Keep your hips square and your arms straight down by your sides
5. Bend your knees and drop your hips and thighs down into a deep lunge
6. Keep your right knee in line with your right heel, and your right thigh parallel to the floor
7. Keep your left knee under your left hip, and your left heel up high
8. Lean your upper body back to maintain your posture — shoulders back and down, chest open, abs in
9. Lower your hips down and up (keep your feet steady!)
10. Complete the sequence and repeat on the left side

Sequence

– 10 double count
– 10 single count
– 10 pulses
– 10 second hold
– Repeat (left side)

Modification

If you have knee or back discomfort or pain:
– Keep your back foot flat and decrease the bend in your front knee

Icon of a body with vibration lines on the sides of it.

How does your body feel after completing the workout?

Icon of a profile view of a person’s head with a speech bubble where the brain would be.

How does your mind feel after completing the workout?

Icon of a question mark.

What does Grit mean to you in this moment?

Choose from the additional reflection prompts below to customize this lesson and meet the needs of your students and your time constraints. Create a unique workout experience every time you return to this lesson!

Self-Connection

Past

How have you used grit to get you through a challenge in the past?

Present

Reflect on a challenge you are currently facing. How can you apply grit to that challenge?

Future

What advice would you give someone who wants to give up on something challenging?

Real-World Connection

Family

Who shows grit in your family, and how do they show it?

Learning Environment

How did you use grit to cope with the challenges of switching between in-person and online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Community

When can grit help a community overcome a challenge? What types of challenges might a community face that could not be solved by community members’ grit?

Academic Connection

ELA

What words come to mind when you think of grit? Create a poem that incorporates each of the words you selected.

Social Studies

Why is the concept of grit controversial when it comes to equity in your country?

STEM

How can grit help a scientist who is conducting research?

Fun Fact

Think back to the definition of GRIT. In 2016, a 62-year-old former U.S. Marine broke the world planking record with a time of 8 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds. That’s a lot of courage and resolve!