Lesson Plan
Grow Your Mind Lesson Plan
Students will learn what a growth mindset is, recognize examples in real-life scenarios, and reflect on strategies like effort and perseverance that help them overcome challenges.
Teaching growth mindset builds resilience and a love of learning by showing students that effort and strategy lead to success, preparing them for academic and personal challenges.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on scenarios, reflection, and class discussion
Materials
- Growth Mindset Poster, - Growth Mindset Scenario Cards, - Growth Mindset Reflection Worksheet, and - Classroom Timer
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Print and cut out Growth Mindset Scenario Cards.
- Print one Growth Mindset Reflection Worksheet per student.
- Display the Growth Mindset Poster where all students can see it.
- Review the definitions and examples of growth vs. fixed mindset in the lesson plan.
- Set up a timer for activity segments.
Step 1
Introduction Hook
5 minutes
- Gather students in front of the Growth Mindset Poster.
- Read key phrases aloud (e.g., “I can improve with practice”).
- Ask: “What do you notice about these words? How do they make you feel?”
- Define growth mindset: belief that we can get smarter with effort, strategies, and help.
Step 2
Think-Pair-Share Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute 2–3 Growth Mindset Scenario Cards to each pair.
- In pairs, students read each scenario and decide if it shows a growth or fixed mindset.
- Students discuss: “What could this person do to show more of a growth mindset?”
- After 8 minutes, pairs share one scenario and their strategy suggestion with the class.
Step 3
Individual Reflection
5 minutes
- Hand out Growth Mindset Reflection Worksheet.
- Students answer prompts: “Describe a time you faced a challenge. What did you do to keep trying?”
- Encourage use of words like effort, practice, strategy, and help.
Step 4
Closing and Commitment
5 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share one insight from their worksheet.
- As a class, craft a simple Growth Mindset Pledge (e.g., “I will use effort and strategies to learn from mistakes.”).
- Have students repeat the pledge together and display it near the Growth Mindset Poster.
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Slide Deck
Grow Your Mind
Exploring how effort, strategies, and perseverance help us learn and succeed.
Welcome students! Today, we’re going to learn how our brains can grow stronger—just like our muscles—when we practice, try new strategies, and don’t give up.
What Is a Growth Mindset?
• We believe we can get smarter with effort
• We embrace challenges
• We learn from mistakes
Explain that a growth mindset means believing we can improve with practice. Contrast briefly with a fixed mindset (“I can’t get better at this”).
Introduction Hook
Look at these phrases on our Growth Mindset Poster:
• “I can improve with practice.”
• “Mistakes help me learn.”
• “Challenges make me stronger.”
Display the Growth Mindset Poster so all students can see it. Read each phrase aloud and ask students what they notice and how the words make them feel.
Think-Pair-Share
- Get with a partner and pick 2–3 Growth Mindset Scenario Cards.
- Read each scenario together: Does it show a growth or fixed mindset?
- Discuss: What could this person do to show more of a growth mindset?
- After 8 minutes, share one scenario and your idea with the class.
Explain instructions step by step. Monitor pairs, keep time, and after 8 minutes invite pairs to share one example and strategy.
Sample Scenario
Scenario: Maria is frustrated because her drawing didn’t look right, so she wants to quit.
• Fixed or Growth?
• What could Maria do to show a growth mindset?
Use this example to model discussion. Then hand out cards so each pair can practice.
Individual Reflection
On your worksheet:
• Describe a time you faced a challenge.
• What did you do to keep trying?
• Use words like effort, practice, strategy, help.
Distribute the Growth Mindset Reflection Worksheet. Give students 5 minutes to draw or write about a challenge they faced and how they kept trying.
Growth Mindset Pledge
Let’s create our class pledge:
“I will use effort and strategies to learn from mistakes.”
(Repeat together and display near our poster!)
Lead students to craft the pledge together. Write their ideas on chart paper or board and display near the poster.
Great Job Today!
Remember: Your mind grows with every effort. Keep trying, stay curious, and don’t give up!
Reinforce the idea that every effort helps their minds grow. Encourage them to remember these habits at home and school.
Activity
Growth Mindset Scenario Cards
Use these cards in the Think-Pair-Share Activity. Distribute 2–3 scenarios per pair. For each card, students should:
- Decide if the student in the scenario shows a growth or fixed mindset.
- Discuss: “What could this person do to show more of a growth mindset?”
- Jake tries to solve a math problem. When he gets it wrong, he says, “I’m just not good at math, so why bother trying?”
- Mei practices tying her shoes but struggles at first. She says, “That’s OK, I’ll try a different way until I get it!”
- Alex sings during music class and forgets the words. He says, “I can’t sing; I’ll never get better,” and stops practicing.
- Sam’s block tower falls down. He shrugs and says, “No big deal,” then rebuilds it, trying a stronger base.
- Lily draws a picture but isn’t happy with it. She crumples the paper and says, “I’m just not an artist.”
- Carlos works on a puzzle. When he’s stuck, he asks a friend or tries a new piece to solve it.
- Ava reads a tricky word, gives up, and whispers, “I’ll never learn to read this.”
- Noah writes a story. His teacher gives feedback, and he revises it to make it better.
Teacher Tip: Mix and match these eight cards. Encourage pairs to come up with action steps like “breaking tasks into smaller parts,” “asking for help,” or “practicing more.”
Worksheet
Growth Mindset Reflection Worksheet
Name: ______________________ Date: ___________
1. Describe a time you faced a challenge at school or home. What happened?
2. What did you do to keep trying when it was hard? Use words like effort, strategy, practice, or help in your answer.
3. What did you learn from this experience? How did using effort or a new strategy help you grow?
4. Growth Mindset Pledge
Think of one thing you will do this week to show a growth mindset (for example: ask for help, break a big task into smaller steps, or practice something new). Write your pledge below:
“I will __________________________________________________.”
Remember: Every time you use effort and good strategies, your mind gets stronger! Keep this worksheet as a reminder of how you can grow.