Growth Mindset - 1
Teachers
Goal: The student will demonstrate a growth mindset (such as acknowledging his/her mistakes, identifying a challenge as time to learn something new or trying a new strategy to meet a goal), while in structured and unstructured activities in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities as measured by a teacher assessment tool.
Objectives:
1. Identify and acknowledge his/her mistakes.
2. Identify a challenge and state how it is a time to learn something new.
3. Try up to 2 different strategies to meet a goal.
Standards: Click on the appropriate link below to view Language Arts standards included in this lesson.
Definitions of Key Terms: Growth mindset is the belief that your brain can grow through hard work and dedication. It is believing a task that might be hard or challenging can be a chance to learn something new.
Discussion Points:
- What do you do when you make a mistake? Do you admit it to anyone?
- What do you do when you are trying something new or that might be hard for you? Do you give up or do you think differently about it?
- What is a growth mindset?
- What is a fixed mindset?
- Why is a growth mindset important?
- How can a growth mindset help you be successful in life?
Discuss these points or your own with students. The teacher may want to share their own examples of when he/she set a goal they wanted to achieve.
Possible activities to review the discussion points:
- The group should form a circle. Ask a question and allow students to toss a bean bag to those who would like to answer the question.
- Play tic-tac-toe by dividing the group into teams. Write discussion questions on a post-it note and place them on the tic-tac-toe grid. Allow a representative from the team to select a post-it note and as a team develop an answer to the question. If they get it right they may put their team's marker (x or o) on the grid.
Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.
- Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
- Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
- Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.
Activity 1: Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
In a large group discuss what it means to grow (examples--develop, change, mature). Develop a list of things that grow. Record answers on chart paper or an interactive board, (such as plants, animals, and people). Explain to students that even our brains can grow.
- Chart Paper or Interactive Board
Explain that growth mindset is having the attitude that our most basic abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication.It is believing a task that might be hard or challenging can be a chance to learn something new. With a growth mindset individuals are always working to develop their skills. Discuss that people with a growth mindset admit when they make a mistake. Talk about a time you made a mistake and acknowledged it.
Talk about the opposite, which is a fixed mindset and what someone might say or think when they have that kind of mindset.
Activity 2: Grow Your Brain
Review the ideas and concepts discussed in Activity 1.
Play the video Brain Jump with Ned the Neuron: Challenges Grow Your Brain. Discuss the video and the main themes.
- Chart Paper or Interactive Board
- Youtube video - Brain Jump with Ned the Neuron: Challenges Grow Your Brain
Discuss challenges that you have faced or other adults. Develop a list of challenges that the kids face. (Ex. learning to ride a bike, tying shoelaces by self, learning to add) Record the list on the board or chart paper.
Activity 3: Challenges
Review the ideas presented and discussed in Activities 1 and 2. Ask the students to think of a few tasks that may be very hard for them or that they have not been able to do yet. Discuss ideas of how each student could try a new strategy to reach the goal of being able to do the task or activity that is hard for them.
- Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet A. Gather the students when they have completed the activity sheet and ask for students to share their pictures/challenges.
Student Activity Sheet A
Directions: Write about or draw challenges you face.
Lesson Extension: Listening Comprehension
Explain that a script is a form of dialogue writing between characters in a movie, play, or broadcast. Utilizing the immersive reader students should listen carefully as the teacher plays the example scripts below. Replay the script if needed. Allow students time to answer the questions on Student Activity Sheet D.
- Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
After students have finished, allow those that want to share their comic do so or role play one of the example scripts.
Example script demonstrating a growth mindset:
Chris: This math is so hard.
PJ: I know it is.
Chris: It may take us some time but I know if we work hard we can do it.
PJ: I think your right! Let’s keep working.
Read Aloud Recommendations: Completing a read aloud with students is a great way to connect text with lesson content while incorporating reading and language practice. Below are suggested titles including, a YouTube link, Lexile and Grade Level information for books relating to the lesson.
| Book Title | Author | Grade Level | Lexile Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whistle for Willie | Ezra Jack Keats | K-2 | AD409L |
| Your Fantastic Elastic Brain | JoAnn Deak Ph.D. | 2-4 | 700 |
| Ish | Peter H. Reynolds | 1-3 | 520 |
Student Activity Sheet B
Directions: Draw a comic to match the script you listened to.
Application Activity
Review and discuss example scripts from lesson extension.
In small groups, have the students create scripts demonstrating growth mindset appropriately and inappropriately. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.
- Script sheet for each group
- Pencil for each student
Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their recordings. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.
Script Extensions:
Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.
Ideas for modifying this activity based on your students’ needs:
- create a script as a class
- pair or group students so that skill levels are varied and assign each a role or task that uses their skill
- create the script by recording the dialog with a phone or other recording device.
Example script demonstrating a growth mindset:
Chris: This math is so hard.
PJ: I know it is.
Chris: It may take us some time but I know if we work hard we can do it.
PJ: I think your right! Let’s keep working.
Example script demonstrating a fixed mindset:
Chris: This math is so hard.
PJ: I know it is.
Chris: I quit. I can’t do it.
PJ: Me too. It’s too hard
Topic Checkout
Discuss the main ideas from each activity already completed. Allow students to complete the Student Topic Checkout. Discuss the students’ answers when finished.
- Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
Student Topic Checkout
Directions: Check or circle the best answer.
1. My brain cannot grow.
2. My brain is like a muscle.
3. I can learn something new, even if it is hard for me.
4. Challenges grow my brain.