Asynchronous Academy

Grit

Suggested Duration: 1.5 Hours

"Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

Dr. Angela Duckworth, Psychologist & Author

One of the traits most highly correlated with success is perseverance. In this section, you will explore the concept of "Grit": the passion and persistence required to achieve long-term goals.

  • Watch this video on Grit and perseverance.
  • As you watch, identify at least three factors that affect an individual's level of grit.
  • Reflect on how these factors currently play a role in your own life and your ability to stick with difficult tasks.

Factors for Mental Health (T-Chart)

Your ability to persevere is closely tied to your mental well-being. To understand this connection, you need to identify what supports you and what challenges you.

  • Create a T-Chart
  • On the left side, list Enhancers: Things that improve your mental health and your ability to persevere (e.g., adequate sleep, supportive friends, physical activity).
  • On the right side, list Detractors: Things that negatively impact your mental health or make it harder to stay resilient (e.g., social media pressure, lack of routine, negative self-talk).

Managing Risk (Video Project)

Now that you have identified the factors affecting your mental health, you will focus on a strategy to handle a specific challenge.

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Video Recording Tip: When making a peer advisory video, speak directly to the camera as if you are talking to a classmate. Keep your explanation of the risk factor concise, and spend most of your 1-2 minutes explaining practical, real-world strategies. Consider using Canva's free video templates to add titles, captions, or transitions to make your video more visually appealing.

Task:

  • Choose one "Risk Factor" (Detractor) that you identified in your T-Chart.
  • Create a short video (1–2 minutes) designed to help other teens manage this specific issue.
  • Your video must include:
    1. A clear explanation of the risk factor and its impact.
    2. At least two effective coping skills or management strategies.
    3. A list of sources of support (people, apps, or organizations) teens can turn to for help.

Deliverable:

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Grit & Mental Health Peer Video

Submit your 1-2 minute social media-style video advising peers on managing a psychological detractor using the course app submission portal.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

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    Peer Advisory Video (1-2 mins)

💡 A Different Way to Learn

Async Academy courses are inquiry-based. There are no rote answer keys or multiple-choice worksheets here. You learn by exploring, questioning, and building projects you care about.

Because your discovery path is completely unique, you need a human sounding board. Enroll to submit your projects and get personalized video feedback from an Ontario Certified Teacher to guide your work.

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

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    Understand the relationship between grit, mental health, and personal success

  • 🎯

    Develop practical strategies to manage challenges and access support systems

Success Criteria

I can:

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    Explain how harassment, unsafe behaviour, or abuse impacts my mental health and ability to persevere

    Expectations Covered: C1
  • ✅

    Identify and use appropriate communication strategies and coping skills to manage personal challenges

    Expectations Covered: C3
  • ✅

    Demonstrate how to access and promote sources of support for myself and my peers

    Expectations Covered: C3

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Understanding Mental Health & Detractors (Knowledge / Understanding)
How clearly does the student explain the relationship between grit, mental well-being, and detracting factors?
 Consistently and clearly explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors Explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors with clear detail Partially explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors Explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors with limited clarity
Coping Skills & Communication Strategies (Thinking / Inquiry)
How effectively does the student apply problem-solving to identify and explain practical coping skills to manage personal challenges?
 Develops highly effective and practical coping skills and strategies to manage challenges Develops clear, practical coping skills and strategies to manage challenges Develops basic coping skills and strategies with some effectiveness Develops limited or unrealistic coping skills and strategies
Accessing & Promoting Support (Application)
How effectively does the student identify and promote appropriate sources of support for themselves and their peers?
 Demonstrates highly effective and thorough understanding of how to access and promote support systems Demonstrates clear understanding of how to access and promote support systems Demonstrates partial understanding of how to access and promote support systems Demonstrates limited understanding of how to access and promote support systems
Media Communication (Communication)
How clearly and engagingly is the peer advisory video delivered?
 Communicates ideas in the video with a high degree of clarity, confidence, and engagement Communicates ideas in the video clearly and with appropriate delivery Communicates ideas in the video with some clarity and organization Communicates ideas in the video with limited clarity or organization
Understanding Mental Health & Detractors (Knowledge / Understanding)
Criteria: How clearly does the student explain the relationship between grit, mental well-being, and detracting factors?
Level 4

Consistently and clearly explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors

Level 3

Explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors with clear detail

Level 2

Partially explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors

Level 1

Explains the relationship between grit, well-being, and detracting factors with limited clarity

Coping Skills & Communication Strategies (Thinking / Inquiry)
Criteria: How effectively does the student apply problem-solving to identify and explain practical coping skills to manage personal challenges?
Level 4

Develops highly effective and practical coping skills and strategies to manage challenges

Level 3

Develops clear, practical coping skills and strategies to manage challenges

Level 2

Develops basic coping skills and strategies with some effectiveness

Level 1

Develops limited or unrealistic coping skills and strategies

Accessing & Promoting Support (Application)
Criteria: How effectively does the student identify and promote appropriate sources of support for themselves and their peers?
Level 4

Demonstrates highly effective and thorough understanding of how to access and promote support systems

Level 3

Demonstrates clear understanding of how to access and promote support systems

Level 2

Demonstrates partial understanding of how to access and promote support systems

Level 1

Demonstrates limited understanding of how to access and promote support systems

Media Communication (Communication)
Criteria: How clearly and engagingly is the peer advisory video delivered?
Level 4

Communicates ideas in the video with a high degree of clarity, confidence, and engagement

Level 3

Communicates ideas in the video clearly and with appropriate delivery

Level 2

Communicates ideas in the video with some clarity and organization

Level 1

Communicates ideas in the video with limited clarity or organization