Grow Your Brain

chloe millard

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Growing My Brain Lesson Plan

Students will learn that effort and persistence help our brains grow by practicing growth mindset responses to challenges and reflecting creatively.

This lesson builds resilience and a positive attitude toward learning, helping students view mistakes as opportunities and persist through difficulties.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Discussion, scenario practice, and creative reflection.

Materials

Chart Paper and Markers, Growth Mindset Poster, Growth Mindset Scenario Cards, Blank Paper and Colored Pencils, Brain Growth Craft Template, and Reflection Sticky Notes

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Review the Growth Mindset Poster and familiarize yourself with key phrases (e.g., “I can learn from mistakes”).
Print and cut out the Growth Mindset Scenario Cards.
Print the Brain Growth Craft Template and gather blank paper and colored pencils.
Prepare a chart on chart paper titled “Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset.”
Provide each student with a Reflection Sticky Notes.

Step 1

Warm-Up

2 minutes

Gather students on the carpet and ask: “Have you ever tried something hard and felt you couldn’t do it?”
Solicit 2–3 quick responses and validate struggles as part of learning.
Introduce today’s idea: our brains grow when we practice and stick with challenges.

Step 2

Direct Teach

4 minutes

Display the Growth Mindset Poster.
Read key statements aloud, contrasting fixed mindset (“I can’t do this”) with growth mindset (“I can’t do this yet”).
Ask students to echo phrases and share one example of when they said “not yet.”

Step 3

Scenario Activity

5 minutes

Pair up students and give each pair 2–3 Growth Mindset Scenario Cards.
In pairs, students read a scenario (e.g., “I can’t solve this puzzle”) and decide on a growth mindset response.
After 3 minutes, ask pairs to share one scenario and their response with the class.

Step 4

Brain Craft & Reflection

4 minutes

Distribute blank paper, colored pencils, and the Brain Growth Craft Template.
Students draw their brain and write one growth mindset phrase (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn”).
On a Reflection Sticky Notes, each student writes a challenge they’ll try with a growth mindset this week.
Collect sticky notes on the chart under “My Growth Goal.”

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Slide Deck

Growing My Brain

Today we’ll learn how effort and persistence help our brains grow!

Welcome everyone! Today we’re exploring the idea of a growth mindset—how our brains can grow stronger when we practice and stick with challenges. Let’s get started!

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset: “I can’t do this.”
Growth Mindset: “I can’t do this yet!”

Show the two statements. Explain that a fixed mindset says “I can’t” and stops, while a growth mindset adds “yet,” meaning we’re still learning. Ask for examples from students.

Growth Mindset Phrases

“Mistakes help me learn.”
“I will keep trying.”
“I praise effort, not just results.”

Read each phrase aloud and have students echo. Emphasize how these phrases help us stay positive when things get tough.

Scenario Activity

Pair up.
Read 2–3 scenario cards.
Think of a growth mindset response.
Share one with the class.

Explain the activity steps. Distribute Growth Mindset Scenario Cards. Circulate and support pairs as they choose growth responses.

Brain Craft & Reflection

Draw your brain and add a growth phrase.
Write a challenge on a sticky note.
Post under “My Growth Goal.”

Hand out Brain Growth Craft Template, colored pencils, and Reflection Sticky Notes. Guide students to draw, write a phrase, and post their challenge under “My Growth Goal.”

Activity

Growth Mindset Scenario Cards

Use these cards to practice turning “I can’t” statements into “I can learn” responses.

Draw a card. Read the scenario aloud.
Talk with a partner: What could you say or do to show a growth mindset?
Share your response with the class.

“I’m not good at reading this story.”
“This math problem is too hard.”
“I don’t know how to tie my shoes.”
“I made a mistake in my drawing, so I want to crumple it.”
“I can’t remember all my spelling words.”
“I can’t climb the monkey bars.”
“I feel nervous singing in music class.”
“I lost my race at recess and don’t want to try again.”
“I’m stuck on my science question and don’t know what to do.”
“I’m afraid to ask for help because I might look silly.”

Encourage students to add “yet,” describe a strategy, or remind themselves that practice helps them improve.

Activity

Brain Growth Craft Template

Your brain is a powerful muscle! Follow these steps:

Color and decorate the brain outline below to show your brain growing.
Inside the brain, write one growth mindset phrase (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn”).
Add stickers, doodles, or patterns around the brain to show your ideas growing.
```
________________________
```
/
/
/
| |
| |
| |
| |
\ /
\ /
________________________/

My Growth Mindset Phrase:

(Make your brain unique and colorful!)

Lesson Plan

Grow Your Brain Lesson Plan

Students will understand that effort and persistence help their brains grow by identifying growth mindset statements, practicing responses to challenging scenarios, and creating a brain craft with a personal growth goal.

This lesson fosters resilience and confidence by teaching students to view mistakes as learning opportunities and embrace challenges, aligning with SEL competencies in self-awareness and self-management.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Discussion, scenario practice, and creative reflection.

Materials

Chart Paper and Markers, Growth Mindset Poster, Growth Mindset Scenario Cards, Blank Paper and Colored Pencils, Brain Growth Craft Template, and Reflection Sticky Notes

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Review the Growth Mindset Poster and key phrases (e.g., “I can learn from mistakes”).
Print and cut Growth Mindset Scenario Cards.
Print the Brain Growth Craft Template and gather blank paper and colored pencils.
Prepare a chart on chart paper titled “Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset.”
Ensure each student has Reflection Sticky Notes.
Aligns with CASEL competencies: Self-Awareness and Self-Management; SEL standard: Students identify and apply growth mindset strategies to learning challenges.

Step 1

Warm-Up

2 minutes

Gather students on the carpet and ask: “Have you ever tried something hard and felt you couldn’t do it?”
Solicit 2–3 responses and validate that challenges help us grow.
Introduce the idea: our brains grow when we practice and stick with challenges.

Step 2

Direct Teach

4 minutes

Display the Growth Mindset Poster.
Read and contrast fixed mindset (“I can’t do this”) vs. growth mindset (“I can’t do this yet”).
Have students echo phrases and share an example of when they learned by adding “yet.”

Step 3

Scenario Activity

4 minutes

Pair up students and distribute Growth Mindset Scenario Cards.
Pairs read 2–3 scenarios and decide on a growth mindset response in 2 minutes.
In the next 2 minutes, invite pairs to share one scenario and their response with the class.

Step 4

Brain Craft

3 minutes

Distribute blank paper, colored pencils, and the Brain Growth Craft Template.
Students draw their brain and write one growth mindset phrase inside (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn”).
Encourage creative decorations around the brain to show growth.

Step 5

Assessment & Reflection

2 minutes

Give each student a Reflection Sticky Notes.
Students write a personal challenge they’ll approach with a growth mindset this week.
Invite 2–3 students to share their growth goal aloud.
Collect sticky notes on the chart under “My Growth Goal” as evidence of understanding.

Slide Deck

Grow Your Brain

Today we’re learning how effort and persistence help our brains grow!

Welcome students! Introduce the idea that our brains grow stronger when we practice and don’t give up. Explain that today we’ll learn how effort and persistence help our brains grow.

Warm-Up

• Have you ever tried something hard and felt you couldn’t do it?
• What helped you keep trying?

Read the questions aloud. Ask 2–3 volunteers to share a time they tried something hard. Emphasize that facing challenges is part of learning.

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset: “I can’t do this.”
Growth Mindset: “I can’t do this yet!”

Display these two statements. Highlight that adding “yet” shows we’re still learning. Ask students which word makes the difference.

Scenario Activity

Pair up.
Choose 2–3 scenario cards.
Think of a growth mindset response.
Share one with the class.

Explain the four steps. Distribute Growth Mindset Scenario Cards. Circulate to support pairs as they find positive responses.

Brain Craft

• Draw your brain on the template.
• Inside, write a growth mindset phrase.
• Decorate to show how your brain is growing!

Hand out Brain Growth Craft Template and colored pencils. Remind students to write one growth mindset phrase inside and decorate to show growth.

My Growth Goal

Write a challenge you’ll approach with a growth mindset on a sticky note and post it under “My Growth Goal.”

Give each student a Reflection Sticky Notes. Invite 2–3 students to share their growth goal before everyone posts on the chart under “My Growth Goal.”

Let’s Grow Our Brains!

Remember:
“Mistakes help us learn. Keep practicing and you will grow!”

Thank students for their participation. Encourage them to remember that mistakes help us learn and to keep practicing their growth mindset all week.

Reading

Growth Mindset Poster

Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset

“I can’t do this.”
“If I make a mistake, I’m not good at it.”
“Other kids are better than me.”

Growth Mindset

“I can’t do this yet!”
“Mistakes help me learn.”
“I will keep trying and improving.”

Key Growth Mindset Phrases

“Effort helps my brain grow.”
“Challenges make me stronger.”
“Practice and time boost my skills.”
“I learn from feedback.”

Your Turn!

Draw and color your own brain below. Then write one growth mindset phrase inside it.

(Add doodles, stickers, or colors around your brain to show your ideas growing!)

Rubric

Growth Mindset Rubric

Use this rubric to assess students’ Brain Craft and Reflection Sticky Note for evidence of growth mindset understanding.

Criteria	2 – Meets Expectations	1 – Developing
Brain Craft	• Drawing is colorful and neatly completed. • Includes a clear growth mindset phrase inside the brain. • Decorated creatively to show growth.	• Drawing is incomplete or plain. • Missing a growth mindset phrase or the phrase is unclear. • Minimal or no decoration.
Reflection Sticky Note	• Clearly states a personal challenge. • Uses growth mindset language (e.g., “yet,” “I will keep trying”).	• Personal challenge is vague or missing. • Lacks growth mindset language and shows limited understanding.