August Cognitive Kit: Back to School & New Beginnings
Welcome to our August Cognitive Kit! As the start of the school year approaches, this month’s theme is “back to school and new beginnings.” This month, we are sharing a book recommendation, crossword puzzle, journal page, coloring page, and some additional resources and further reading.
Click on the files below to download and print any of the exercises and if you’d like to, please tag us on social media when you’re finished. We’d love to see your completed activities!
Book Recommendation:
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth (2016)
“In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls ‘grit.’
Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of ‘genius,’ Duckworth, now a celebrated researcher and professor, describes her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not ‘genius’ but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.
In Grit, she takes readers into the field to visit cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, teachers working in some of the toughest schools, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she’s learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers—from JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff to Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll.” (Summary from Amazon)
You can find Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance at your local library, or on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more.
Coloring Page:
You can download this month’s coloring page here: August 2024 Cognitive Kit Coloring Page
Journal Page:
You can download this month’s journal page here: August 2024 Cognitive Kit Journal Page
Crossword Puzzle:
You can download this month’s crossword puzzle here: August 2024 Cognitive Kit Crossword Puzzle
(Hint! The answers can be found in the featured studies and resources below.)
You can now view the answers to the July crossword puzzle here!
Featured Research Study:
Since back-to-school time also signifies the start of fall sports, our featured research study and resources for the month are resources that are helpful for young athletes, parents, and coaches. Learn more about our research on young athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts in this paper we published in August 2023:
First Author: Ann McKee, MD
Senior Author: Michael Alosco, PhD
Resources:
Take a look at this month’s highlighted resources, which offer help with mental health, recovering from concussions, and more:
True or False? Seven Common Myths About Brain Injury – Brain Injury Association of America
‘HEADS UP’ Campaign – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Resources for Families – Boston University CTE Center
Thank you for completing August’s Cognitive Kit activities! If you’d like to see kits from other months, please click here.