Growth Mindset Activity Guide

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will work in pairs to tackle a fun, challenge-based task that encourages persistence and teamwork. They will experience firsthand how taking on a difficult challenge can help them learn and grow.

Challenge Task: The Tower Building Challenge

1. Materials Needed:

   • Simple construction materials like blocks, paper cups, or other classroom items.
   • A flat surface to build on.

2. Task Instructions:

   • Each pair of students will work together to build the tallest tower they can using the provided materials.
   • Encourage students to use creative strategies to overcome challenges (e.g., using different structures, trying out different arrangements) when their tower falls or doesn't seem stable.
   • Remind students that it's okay if their tower doesn't work perfectly the first time – the goal is to learn through trial and error.

3. Discussion Points:

   • After the challenge, have a brief conversation. Ask questions like:
     • How did you feel when the tower fell?
     • What did you do to try and fix it?
     • How can trying new ideas help us get better at something?

4. Encouraging a Growth Mindset:

   • Remind students that making mistakes is a part of learning.
   • Celebrate all efforts, regardless of whether the tower was the tallest.
   • Emphasize that every attempt, even when it doesn't work out, helps them improve.

Growth Mindset Discussion Prompts

Below are some discussion prompts to help guide your conversation about the activity and the idea of a growth mindset. Use these questions to encourage reflection and sharing among students:

1. Thinking About Challenges:

   • What was the biggest challenge you faced during the activity?
     
     
     
   • How did you feel when you encountered a problem or setback?
     
     
     

2. Reflecting on Effort and Persistence:

   • What did you do when your idea didn’t work the first time?
     
     
     
   • How did working with a partner help you overcome difficulties?
     
     
     

3. Understanding Growth:

   • What did you learn about trying new strategies?
     
     
     
   • Can you share a moment during the challenge where trying again made a difference?
     
     
     

4. Looking Forward:

   • How do you think using a growth mindset could help you in other areas of learning?
     
     
     
   • What is one challenge you feel ready to tackle after today's lesson?
     
     
     

Feel free to add your own thoughts or questions, and remember, every idea and effort is a step towards growing our minds!

Positive Growth Mindset Project Handout

Project Overview

In this project, you will create a visual representation (poster or drawing) that shows how overcoming challenges can lead to growth and learning. Use your creativity to express how struggling with a task can eventually make you stronger and wiser!

Instructions

1. Think About a Challenge:
   
   
   
   • Consider a time when something was hard for you, but after trying and practicing, you got better. It could be learning a new skill, solving a tough puzzle, or anything else that was challenging.
     
     
     
2. Plan Your Visual:
   
   
   
   • Decide if you want to create a drawing, painting, collage, or even a digital poster.
     
     
     
   • Think about including elements that show both the challenge and the way you grew from it. You might include words, images, or symbols that represent effort and success.
     
     
     
3. Create Your Artwork:
   
   
   
   • Use your chosen materials to create your poster or drawing.
     
     
     
   • Remember, there is no right or wrong way to show your journey. Let your creativity shine and make it personal to you!
     
     
     
4. Share and Reflect:
   
   
   
   • Once you finish, be ready to share your artwork with the class.
     
     
     
   • Explain what your project represents and how the challenge you depicted helped you learn and grow.
     
     
     

Reflection Questions

1. What did you learn from creating this project?
   
   
   
2. How did representing your challenge help you understand your own growth?
   
   
   
3. How can you use this experience to approach future challenges?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Have fun creating your project and remember: every challenge is a chance to grow!