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Growing Your Brain

Lesson Plan

Growth Mindset Lesson Plan

Students will explore and apply the principles of growth mindset by identifying challenges, practicing positive self-talk during role-play scenarios, and reflecting on strategies to learn from mistakes.

This lesson empowers students to embrace challenges and see mistakes as learning opportunities, building resilience, confidence, and persistence that support academic and personal growth.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on activities, discussion, and reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduce Growth Mindset

5 minutes

  • Gather students around the Growth Mindset Poster.
  • Ask: “What does mindset mean?” and record responses on chart paper.
  • Explain fixed vs. growth mindset with simple kid-friendly examples.
  • Invite one or two students to share a time they learned from a mistake.

Step 2

Challenge Brainstorm

8 minutes

  • Distribute the Growth Mindset Brainstorm Worksheet.
  • Ask students to write or draw something they find challenging in school or life.
  • After 3–4 minutes, have pairs share one challenge with each other.
  • Quickly group-share one or two examples, praising their honesty.

Step 3

Scenario Practice

10 minutes

  • Place the Challenge Scenario Cards face down.
  • Each student draws a card, reads aloud the scenario (e.g., “I got a low score on my spelling test”).
  • Role-play a growth mindset response to the challenge.
  • Peers give one compliment on how the speaker showed a growth mindset.

Step 4

Reflection and Goal-Setting

7 minutes

  • Hand out the Reflection Journal Template.
  • Ask students to write one thing they learned about growth mindset and one personal goal they’ll try next time they face a challenge.
  • Invite volunteers to share their goals with the group.
  • Collect journals or have students keep them for future check-ins.
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Slide Deck

Growing Your Brain!

Discover how challenges help our brains grow!

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to learn how our brains can grow when we face challenges. Introduce yourself and say: “Let’s grow our brains together!”

What is a Mindset?

• A mindset is how you think about your abilities and learning.
• It shapes how you face challenges.

Ask students: “What do you think mindset means?” Jot a few responses on chart paper. Then explain the definition below.

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

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

Explain each point with a simple example: e.g., a butterfly struggling out of a cocoon vs. instantly flying. Emphasize “yet.”

Challenge Brainstorm

  1. Write or draw something you find challenging.
  2. Share your challenge with a partner.
  3. We’ll pick a few to share with the whole group.

Hand out the Growth Mindset Brainstorm Worksheet. Give 3–4 minutes for students to write or draw one challenge. Then have them share with a partner and praise their honesty.

Scenario Practice

  1. Draw a scenario card.
  2. Role-play a growth mindset response.
  3. Peers offer one compliment on how you showed growth.

Lay the Challenge Scenario Cards face down. Invite each student to draw a card, read it out loud, then role-play a growth response. Encourage classmates to give one compliment.

Reflection & Goal-Setting

• Write one thing you learned today.
• Write one goal you’ll try next time you face a challenge.
• Share if you’d like!

Distribute the Reflection Journal Template. Ask students to write one thing they learned about growth mindset and set one personal goal for next time they face a challenge. Invite volunteers to share.

Keep Growing!

Mistakes are proof you’re trying.
What will you try next?

Reinforce the key takeaway: mistakes help our brains grow. Invite students to name one thing they’ll try differently next time.

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Worksheet

Growth Mindset Brainstorm Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________

  1. Think about something you find challenging.
    Write or draw it below:











  2. Why is this challenging for you?
    Write or draw your ideas:











  3. How do you feel when you face this challenge?
    Circle or draw a face: 😊 😞 😠 😬 😃 😢



  4. Change your words!
    Rewrite “I can’t do this” into a growth mindset “I can’t do this ___.”
    Draw or describe how saying this makes you feel stronger:






  5. Brainstorm a strategy.
    List or draw one thing you could try next time you face this challenge (for example: ask a friend, practice more, take a deep breath):






Great job! Remember: Mistakes help our brains grow!

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Activity

Challenge Scenario Cards

These cards present everyday challenges students might face. Use them for role-play: draw a card, read the scenario aloud, then respond with a growth mindset. Peers give one compliment on how the response shows growth.

1. I got a low score on my spelling test.



2. I forgot my homework at home.



3. My art project didn’t turn out the way I wanted.



4. I don’t understand this math problem.



5. My friend didn’t invite me to play at recess.



6. I tripped and fell during our class game.



7. I lost my place while reading out loud.



8. My science experiment didn’t work.



9. I spilled paint on my drawing.



10. I felt nervous and stumbled during my presentation.

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Journal

Growth Mindset Reflection Journal

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________

  1. One thing I learned about growth mindset today:






  2. A challenge I faced and how I used a growth mindset:






  3. One thing I am proud of from today’s activities:






  4. A personal growth goal I will set for myself next time I face a challenge:






Great job reflecting! Remember, each time you try, your brain grows stronger.

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Reading

🎈 Growth Mindset Poster

Your Brain Is a Super Muscle!

Stretch it with challenges.
Grow it with effort!

Key Reminders

  • Mistakes are proof you’re trying.
  • Add “yet” to your words:
    • “I can’t do this… yet!”
  • Challenges help your brain build new connections.
  • Effort turns hard work into brain power.

“I may not know it yet, but with practice and persistence, I will learn!”

Keep going, keep growing, and watch your brain shine!

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Cool Down

Growth Mindset Cool Down

  1. One new thing I learned about growth mindset today:





  2. A challenge I faced and how I thought about it differently:





  3. Add “yet” to a sentence you could use when something feels hard:





  4. One goal I will set to grow my brain this week:





Thank you for reflecting! Keep growing your brain!

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