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Growth Mindset

Lesson Plan

Mindset Game Guide

Empower students to persevere by reframing setbacks as opportunities through a collaborative game and reflection, culminating in charting actionable growth steps.

Teaching students to view failure as learning fuel is crucial for academic resilience, self-efficacy, and long-term success. This lesson fosters a growth mindset, promoting persistence and positive self-talk during challenges.

Audience

8th Grade Small Group

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Game-based reflection and chart activity

Materials

Failure to Fuel Slides, Perseverance Bingo, and Win from Loss Chart

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Growth Mindset

5 minutes

  • Display Failure to Fuel Slides
  • Define 'growth mindset' vs. 'fixed mindset'
  • Discuss examples of setbacks and how they can fuel growth
  • Explain that today’s game will turn challenges into wins

Step 2

Play Perseverance Bingo

10 minutes

  • Distribute Perseverance Bingo cards and markers
  • Call out real-life challenge prompts (e.g., “I tried a problem multiple times”)
  • Students mark squares showing perseverance actions
  • The first student(s) to get Bingo share how they overcame a setback

Step 3

Win from Loss Chart Activity

5 minutes

  • Hand out Win from Loss Chart
  • Ask students to recall a recent failure or setback
  • Fill in the chart: describe the setback, lessons learned, and next steps
  • Encourage honest reflection and tie back to game examples

Step 4

Group Debrief

5 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share insights from their charts
  • Highlight common perseverance strategies and mindsets
  • Reinforce how reframing setbacks leads to growth
  • Encourage applying these strategies in future challenges
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Slide Deck

Turning Failure into Fuel

• Welcome to our Growth Mindset session!
• Today we’ll learn how to reframe setbacks.
• We’ll play a game to practice persevering.

Welcome the students and set the tone. Emphasize that mistakes are part of learning and today we’ll explore how to turn setbacks into opportunities.

What Is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and practice.
• Embrace challenges
• Learn from criticism
• Persist despite setbacks

Introduce the concept of a growth mindset. Keep definitions simple and relatable.

What Is a Fixed Mindset?

A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence are static traits.
• Avoid challenges
• Give up easily
• Feel threatened by others’ success

Contrast with fixed mindset to highlight the difference.

Growth vs. Fixed: Key Differences

Growth Mindset:
• Effort leads to improvement
• Setbacks are learning tools

Fixed Mindset:
• Effort is pointless
• Setbacks define ability

Use this slide to reinforce key distinctions. You can draw a quick two-column chart if desired.

Why Mindset Matters

• Increases resilience and perseverance
• Encourages taking on new challenges
• Improves academic and personal growth
• Builds confidence over time

Explain why mindset matters for school, sports, and life.

Real-Life Example

“Michael Jordan was cut from his high-school basketball team, but he used that failure to practice harder. He became one of the greatest players ever.”

• What can we learn from this?

Share a real-world story to make the concept concrete. Invite brief reactions.

Discussion: Your Setbacks

• Think of a time you struggled or failed.
• What did you learn from it?
• How could you use that lesson next time?

Prompt students to think about their own experiences. Give them a moment to reflect.

Next Up: Perseverance Bingo

• We’ll play a Bingo game focused on perseverance.
• Listen for challenge prompts and mark your cards.
• Let’s turn everyday setbacks into wins!

Transition into the interactive portion of the lesson. Explain that the game will give them practice reframing challenges.

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Game

Perseverance Bingo Instructions

Objective: Reinforce growth mindset and perseverance by recognizing real-life examples of persistence, learning from setbacks, and celebrating small wins.

Materials Needed:

  • A copy of each student’s Perseverance Bingo card (5×5 grid)
  • Markers, chips, or pencils for covering squares
  • A container with scenario prompts (optional: printed slips)

How to Play:

  1. Distribute one Bingo card and markers to each student.
  2. Explain that you will read or display perseverance prompts (e.g., “I asked for help when I didn’t understand”).
  3. When students have experienced or taken that action, they cover the corresponding square on their card.
  4. The first student to cover five squares in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) shouts “Bingo!”
  5. The winner shares at least one example of how they persevered in that situation.
  6. Continue playing multiple rounds as time allows to settle into different examples of grit.

Teacher Tips:

  • Shuffle prompt slips and draw randomly, or use a digital spinner.
  • Encourage students to explain how they felt, what they learned, and how they’ll apply it next time.
  • Offer small rewards (stickers, positive notes) for each Bingo round won.

Sample Bingo Card (free center space):

I tried a problem again after failingI asked a classmate or teacher for helpI practiced a skill I found difficultI tried a new study strategyI used positive self-talk
I learned from my mistakeI kept going even when it was hardI set a small goal and met itI gave feedback to a friendI broke a big task into smaller steps
I stayed patient with myselfFREE SPACE
(Reflect on your mindset)		I changed my approach when one didn't workI praised a peer for their effortI reviewed errors and corrected them
I maintained focus on a challenging taskI tracked my progress over timeI used a growth mindset statementI adjusted my goals when neededI asked for resources or examples
I reflected on what strategies workedI practiced persistence on a problemI helped someone understand somethingI tried a challenging puzzleI celebrated small wins

Feel free to swap in different prompts from this list for future rounds:

  • “I asked for feedback on my work.”
  • “I broke a tough question into steps.”
  • “I checked my mistakes to learn from them.”
  • “I reminded myself ‘I can learn this.’”
  • “I stuck with a project until it was done.”
  • “I tried a new way when the first didn’t work.”

Let’s play and turn setbacks into wins!

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Worksheet

Win from Loss Chart

Instructions: Think of a recent setback or failure you experienced. Use the chart below to reflect on what happened, what you learned, and how you can turn it into a future success.

Setback (What happened?)Lesson Learned (What did I learn?)Next Steps (How will I turn this into a win?)



















Reflection Questions

  1. How did I feel when this setback occurred?






  1. Who or what can support me as I work on these next steps?






  1. When will I check in on my progress?






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