Lesson Plan
Growth Habits Lesson Plan
Students will identify and track daily habits that foster a growth mindset and reflect on these habits to set personal growth goals.
This lesson empowers students to develop self-awareness of habits that support a growth mindset, promoting resilience, persistence, and goal-setting skills.
Audience
11th Grade
Time
35 minutes
Approach
Hands-on habit tracking and reflective journaling.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
5 minutes
- Print or provide digital access to Habit Tracker Worksheet and Habit Reflection Prompts.
- Familiarize yourself with the Sample Habit Models answer key to guide discussion and support student understanding.
Step 1
Introduction to Growth Mindset
5 minutes
- Define growth mindset: belief that abilities can develop through effort.
- Ask students for examples of fixed vs. growth mindset statements.
- Explain how daily habits reinforce the mindset we choose.
Step 2
Explore Sample Habits
5 minutes
- Distribute the Sample Habit Models.
- In pairs, have students review habits labeled as growth-oriented.
- Prompt discussion: Why do these habits support learning and resilience?
Step 3
Habit Tracking Activity
10 minutes
- Hand out the Habit Tracker Worksheet.
- Students list 3–5 daily habits they currently practice or want to develop.
- For each habit, they note when and how they will track it over the next week.
Step 4
Group Discussion and Sharing
7 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share one habit and their tracking plan.
- Facilitate conversation: How might this habit help you face challenges?
- Encourage peer feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Step 5
Reflection Journal
5 minutes
- Distribute Habit Reflection Prompts.
- Students choose two prompts and write brief responses:
- What habit will I commit to daily?
- How will I celebrate small wins?
- What challenges might arise and how will I respond?
Step 6
Wrap-Up and Next Steps
3 minutes
- Encourage students to begin using their habit tracker immediately.
- Challenge each student to maintain one new habit for one week.
- Explain that you will revisit their reflections and progress in a follow-up session.
Slide Deck
Growth Habits
Identifying and tracking daily habits that foster a growth mindset
– 35-minute lesson for 11th grade
– Hands-on worksheet, sample models, and reflection prompts
Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today we’ll explore habits that build a growth mindset and learn to track and reflect on them.
Introduction to Growth Mindset
• Growth Mindset: Belief that abilities can develop through effort
• Fixed Mindset: Belief that abilities are static
Discussion:
– Give one example of a fixed-mindset statement.
– Turn it into a growth-mindset statement.
(5 minutes) Define growth vs. fixed mindset. Use real-life or academic examples to illustrate. Ask students to share examples aloud.
Explore Sample Habits
Review these growth-oriented habits:
- Celebrate small wins daily (e.g., finish a study task)
- Ask questions when stuck
- Reflect on mistakes to learn from them
Pair Discussion: Why do these habits promote persistence?
(5 minutes) Hand out Sample Habit Models. In pairs, have students review the habits and discuss why they support resilience.
Habit Tracking Activity
On your Habit Tracker Worksheet:
- List 3–5 habits you practice or want to develop
- For each habit, note:
• When you’ll do it (time of day)
• How you’ll track it (check-off, journal note) - Plan to track each habit for one week
(10 minutes) Distribute the Habit Tracker Worksheet. Circulate to support students as they choose and plan habits.
Group Discussion & Sharing
Discussion Prompts:
• Which habit did you choose and why?
• How will this habit help you face challenges?
• What suggestions do peers have to improve the plan?
(7 minutes) Invite volunteers to share one habit and their tracking plan. Encourage peers to give constructive feedback.
Reflection Journal
Choose two prompts and respond:
• What habit will I commit to daily?
• How will I celebrate small wins?
• What challenges might arise, and how will I respond?
(5 minutes) Hand out Habit Reflection Prompts. Students choose two prompts and write brief responses.
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
• Start using your habit tracker today
• Commit to one new habit for a week
• We’ll revisit your progress in our next session
(3 minutes) Encourage students to begin tracking immediately. Challenge each to maintain one habit for a week. Explain follow-up review of their reflections and progress.
Worksheet
Habit Tracker Worksheet
Use the table below to plan and track up to 5 daily habits for one week. For each habit, fill in what it is, when you’ll do it, and how you’ll track it. Then, each day you complete the habit, check off the box.
| Habit (1–5) | When (Time of Day) | How I’ll Track It | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 2. ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 3. ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 4. ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| 5. ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ___________________________ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
After one week, reflect on your progress and consider which habit you will continue or adjust moving forward.
Journal
Habit Reflection Prompts
Use these prompts to reflect deeply on the habits you chose. Select two prompts and write your responses.
- What habit will I commit to daily, and why is it important to my growth mindset?
- What challenges might arise when practicing this habit, and how will I respond to them?
- How will I track my progress and celebrate small wins along the way?
- In what ways has this habit already influenced my learning or resilience?
- After one week, what adjustments will I make to improve this habit or my approach?
Choose any two prompts above and write your detailed reflections.
Answer Key
Sample Habit Models
Below are example daily habits that foster a growth mindset. Each model includes when to practice it, how to track it, and why it supports growth and resilience.
| Habit | When (Time of Day) | How to Track | Growth Mindset Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Celebrate small wins | End of each study session | ✔️ Check off daily journal entry | Recognizing progress—even minor achievements—reinforces that effort leads to improvement, boosting motivation. |
| 2. Ask questions when stuck | During class or study | 📝 Note questions in a log | Encourages curiosity and persistence by seeking understanding rather than giving up when facing challenges. |
| 3. Reflect on mistakes | After completing tasks | 🗒️ Bullet-point reflection | Viewing errors as learning opportunities helps students adapt strategies and reduces fear of failure. |
| 4. Set a specific learning goal | Each morning | 📅 Write goal in planner | Establishing clear, achievable goals focuses effort, encourages planning, and provides measurable progress markers. |
| 5. Practice positive self-talk | Before challenging tasks | ✔️ Tally affirmations in tracker | Reinforcing “I can improve with effort” statements builds confidence and resilience when facing difficult tasks. |
Use these models to guide your own habit selection. Notice how each habit aligns effort with reflection, helping you build persistence and a growth-oriented mindset.