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Could You Be an Explorer?

Taniya Henderson

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Could You Be an Explorer?

Students will learn how famous explorers like Neil Armstrong and Christopher Columbus faced fears using a growth mindset and will apply those strategies to their own challenges through stories, discussion, and creative activities.

Introducing growth mindset through explorers helps early elementary students see resilience in action, building confidence to tackle their own fears and setbacks.

Audience

Early Elementary Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Use explorer stories, visuals, and activities to build courage and growth mindset.

Materials

  • Famous Explorers Slide Deck, - Explorer Visual Posters, - Explorer Challenge Cards, - Growth Mindset Worksheet, and - Pencils and Crayons

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Famous Explorers Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with each explorer’s story.
  • Print and cut out the Explorer Challenge Cards.
  • Print enough copies of the Growth Mindset Worksheet for each student.
  • Post the Explorer Visual Posters around the classroom for display.

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

5 minutes

  • Greet students and ask, “What is an explorer?”
  • Show the first slides of the Famous Explorers Slide Deck.
  • Define growth mindset: explain it’s about believing you can learn and improve.
  • Ask: “How do you feel when you try something new?”
  • Transition: “Today we’ll see how explorers managed their fears!”

Step 2

Explore Stories

10 minutes

  • Present two explorer stories from the Famous Explorers Slide Deck (e.g., Christopher Columbus, Neil Armstrong).
  • Display their challenges and fears using the Explorer Visual Posters.
  • Ask guided questions:
    • “What fears did they face?”
    • “How did they keep going when it was hard?”
  • Highlight growth mindset strategies: practice, asking for help, staying curious.

Step 3

Hands-On Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute Explorer Challenge Cards and Growth Mindset Worksheet.
  • In pairs or small groups, students pick a card describing a challenge (e.g., “Cross a fast river,” “Climb a tall mountain”).
  • On their worksheet, students draw themselves as an explorer and write or dictate one way to overcome the challenge using a growth mindset.
  • Encourage use of vocabulary: “I can learn,” “I’ll keep trying,” “I’ll ask for help.”
  • Circulate to support students with ideas and writing.

Step 4

Reflection & Share

5 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share their explorer drawing and one growth mindset strategy.
  • Reinforce positive language and celebrate effort.
  • Ask: “How can you use these strategies when you feel scared or stuck?”
  • Conclude by reminding students that everyone can be an explorer of learning and bravery.
lenny

Slide Deck

Could You Be an Explorer?

Welcome!
Today we’ll learn about explorers who did brave things and how they kept going even when they were scared.

Welcome students! Introduce today’s theme: exploring new places and ideas. Tell them they’ll learn about famous explorers and how a growth mindset helped them overcome fears.

What Is an Explorer?

• Someone who travels to learn about new places or ideas.
• They often face unknown challenges.

Engage students by asking what comes to mind when they hear “explorer.” Write or call out examples.

What Is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset means believing you can get better by trying, practicing, and asking for help.

Define growth mindset in simple terms. Use gestures to show “growth” (arms growing taller).

Christopher Columbus

• Faced fear of a long ocean voyage.
• Kept a log, asked questions, and believed he could learn to navigate.

Tell the story of Christopher Columbus. Use the Explorer Visual Poster of Columbus. Highlight his fear of the unknown ocean and how he kept going.

Neil Armstrong

• Felt nervous about being the first person on the Moon.
• Trained many hours, worked with a team, and stayed curious.

Show a visual of Neil Armstrong on the Moon. Emphasize his fear of space travel and how practice and teamwork helped him.

Explorer Challenge Activity

  1. Pick an Explorer Challenge Card.
  2. Draw yourself as an explorer on the worksheet.
  3. Write or say one growth mindset idea to solve the challenge.

Explain the hands-on activity step by step. Model picking a challenge card and brainstorming ideas.

Reflection & Share

• Who wants to show their drawing?
• What growth mindset idea did you use?
• How can you use this when you feel stuck?

Guide students through sharing. Remind classmates to listen and cheer for each other.

You Are an Explorer!

Remember:
• Try new things.
• Keep going when it’s hard.
• Ask for help and stay curious.

Wrap up with encouragement. Reinforce that everyone can be an explorer of learning.

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Activity

Explorer Challenge Cards

Use these cards during the Hands-On Activity to spark students’ creativity and growth mindset thinking. Print, cut apart, and let each pair or small group choose one.

Card 1: Cross a Rushing River
You need to get to the other side, but the water is loud and fast.
Think: How can you keep going when it feels scary?
Draw: Yourself finding a safe way across.






Card 2: Climb a Tall Mountain
The peak looks far away and steep.
Think: What can you do if you feel tired or stuck?
Draw: Yourself reaching the summit.






Card 3: Explore a Dark Cave
The shadows inside make you nervous.
Think: What can you say to yourself to stay brave?
Draw: Yourself shining a light ahead.






Card 4: Sail a Wobbly Boat
The boat rocks and the waves splash.
Think: How could you ask for help or practice to feel safer?
Draw: Yourself steering through the waves.






Card 5: Trek Through a Thick Jungle
Branches and vines block your path.
Think: What is one way you can stay curious and keep going?
Draw: Yourself clearing a path.






Card 6: Venture onto a Snowy Tundra
The cold wind makes you want to turn back.
Think: How can you remind yourself to keep trying?
Draw: Yourself bundling up and moving forward.






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Worksheet

Growth Mindset Worksheet

Use this worksheet with your Explorer Challenge Cards to plan and reflect on how you can use a growth mindset to overcome challenges.

Part 1: Draw Your Explorer Self

Draw yourself as the explorer facing your challenge.











Part 2: Plan Your Growth Mindset Idea

What challenge did you pick? _________________________________


What growth mindset idea will help you solve it?
(e.g., “I can learn,” “I’ll keep trying,” “I’ll ask for help”)




Part 3: Reflect on Your Own Experience

Think about a time you felt nervous to try something new.

What happened?



What did you do to keep going?




What kind words will you say to yourself next time?





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