Growth Mindset - 3

Continued Growth

Lesson Plan

Goal: While in structured and unstructured education settings, the student will use a growth mindset phrase to describe a goal they have, in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.

Objectives:
1. Identify when he/she has made a mistake in their work.
2. Revise a fixed mindset phrase to incorporate growth mindset language.
3. Use a growth mindset phrase to describe a challenge to meeting a goal.

Definitions of Key Terms: A 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 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?

Review Discussion Points: Provide students with examples for each point.

Possible activities to review the discussion points or use your own:

Think. Pair. Share: The teacher will pose questions related to the discussion points. Explain to students that the purpose of the activity is to think about the question and activate prior knowledge. The teacher will model the procedure to facilitate student understanding.

  • T (Think): Teacher begins by asking a specific question using the discussion topics.
  • P (Pair): Each student should be paired with another student, small group or work with a teacher. Pairs write brief answers on sticky notes or scrap paper.
  • S (Share): Students share their thinking with their partner. Teacher then leads a whole-group conversation using students’ answers.

SEL Categories Activity:

  • Ask students to create a list of words associated with the topic (give them 2-5 minutes to complete).
  • Once time is up, ask each student to share a word or thought from their list.
  • Other students must cross that word or thought off their list.
  • Continue the process until all words or thoughts have been listed.

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: The Science Behind Your Brain

Prior to starting the activity, copy and paste the video link from the Materials list into a web browser and cue it to the beginning.

Materials Needed:
  • Interactive board or other video playing device
  • YouTube video: https://youtu.be/I2ttL1kgZRk
  • Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Review the discussion points and the definition of growth mindset with students. As they watch the video, ask students to take notes on the Student Activity Sheet A. Review the activity sheet with the students and ensure they understand how to use the word bank at the top of the sheet.

Show the video on growth mindset. Discuss the answers when finished with the video.

Answer Key to Student Activity Sheet A:

  • 1. can
  • 2. fixed
  • 3. growth
  • 4. muscle
  • 5. stronger and smarter
  • 6. neurons.
  • 7. neuroplasticity.
  • 8. opportunities

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: Fill in the blanks with a word from the word bank. Each word can only be used once.

fixed neurons opportunities stronger brain neuroplasticity smarter growth can

1. Through effort and effective strategies, you develop your level of intelligence.

2. People with a mindset believe their intelligence is fixed at birth and they can’t do much to change it.

3. People with a mindset believe their talents, abilities, and intelligence can be developed in different ways.

4. The is like a muscle. It changes and grows in response to what we do.

5. The harder we work using helpful strategies, and the more challenges we face, the and the brain becomes.

6. The brain is made up of cells called .

7. As we learn the number of connections between our neurons also grows. These connections help to make us smarter. Scientists call this .

8. Students with a growth mindset view challenges and mistakes as to become smarter.

Activity 2: Personal Narrative

Review the key points from Activity 1 with the students. Discuss with students that the power of words can help lead us to a growth mindset. On chart paper or the board, write the following examples (or choose your own to use). Ask students if the examples are demonstrating fixed mindset or growth mindset. Discuss why. Ask students to give you ideas on what you can say instead. Some examples:

Materials Needed:
  • Chart paper or interactive board
  • Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per person
  • Pencil for each student

Some examples:

  • 1. I made a mistake
  • 2. I give up

Encourage students to think of situations when the power of words helped them have a growth mindset. Allow time to complete Student Activity Sheet B. Ask for volunteers to share their answers after all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet B

Directions: Think of a time when you experienced a growth mindset. Did the power of words help you? Write about it.

Activity 3: Letter to Younger Student

Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2 with the students. Discuss the idea that identifying mistakes, using growth mindset phrases and continuing to work towards a goal, will often lead you to achieving it. Share a personal experience with the students that demonstrates that point.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Ask students time to complete Student Activity Sheet C. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet C

Directions: Write a letter to a younger student explaining growth mindset. Be sure to include the importance of having a growth mindset and how the power of words can help.

Application Activity

Script Prompt: Develop a script and create an animation that includes two characters in a setting related to the script prompt:

Materials Needed:

The dialogue between the characters must include:

  • One of the characters demonstrates an idea with a fixed mindset.
  • The other character discusses why it is hard to change his/her mindset and discusses ways on how to change the mindset from fixed to growth.

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.


Methods for completing this activity include (choose one or a few, depending on your students’ levels and abilities):


Script Writing Practice: Teacher-led discussion of script creation. As a group, write both an appropriate and inappropriate version of the script. In small groups or individually, have the students independently create scripts that demonstrate the script prompt. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.


Independent Script Recording: Pair students together to complete two scripts using the same script prompt detailed above. Direct each student to take turns being character one and character two.


Animation Creation: Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.


Lesson Extension: Incorporate ELA standards by discussing both spoken and written grammar rules (dialogue punctuation, correct verb tense, sentence structure, character, setting, problem, solution). Consider using both the final animation and written script as an ELA grade/assignment.

Topic Checkout

Review the key points from previous activities and discussions with the students. Allow students time to complete the Student Topic Checkout. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student
    •

Student Topic Checkout

Directions: Describe how mistakes and challenges help us grow our brains. Use complete sentences.