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Growth Mindset

Lesson Plan

Cultivating Growth Mindset

Students will understand that their strengths can be developed and grown, fostering resilience and a positive attitude towards challenges.

Developing a growth mindset empowers students to overcome obstacles, embrace learning, and achieve their full potential, both academically and personally.

Audience

6th Grade Group

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Through discussion, examples, and reflection, students will explore the concepts of fixed and growth mindsets.

Materials

The Power of Yet Slide Deck, Growing Our Strengths Circle Discussion Guide, and From 'Can't' to 'Can' Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is a Mindset?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: 'What do you think a 'mindset' is?' Allow for a few student responses.
    - Introduce the concept of a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset using the first few slides of The Power of Yet Slide Deck.

Step 2

Exploring 'The Power of Yet'

10 minutes

  • Continue through The Power of Yet Slide Deck, focusing on examples of how 'yet' can transform a fixed mindset statement into a growth mindset one.
    - Facilitate a brief partner share: 'Think of something you find challenging right now. How could adding 'yet' change your perspective on it?'

Step 3

Growing Our Strengths Circle

15 minutes

  • Transition to the Growing Our Strengths Circle Discussion Guide.
    - Lead the small group discussion, encouraging students to share examples of strengths they've developed and discuss how effort and practice contributed to that growth.

Step 4

From 'Can't' to 'Can' Worksheet

8 minutes

  • Distribute the From 'Can't' to 'Can' Worksheet.
    - Have students individually complete the worksheet, identifying a challenge and reframing it with a growth mindset perspective.

Step 5

Wrap-up and Reflection

2 minutes

  • Briefly bring the group back together.
    - Ask students to share one key takeaway about growth mindset from today's lesson.
    - Emphasize that cultivating a growth mindset is an ongoing process.
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Slide Deck

The Power of Yet

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Welcome students and introduce the topic: understanding how our brains can grow. Ask students if they've heard the term 'mindset' before.

What's a Fixed Mindset?

When you believe your talents and intelligence are fixed.

  • "I'm just not good at math."
  • "Why bother? I'll probably fail."
  • "I give up easily if it's too hard."

Explain that a fixed mindset is when people believe their abilities are set in stone. They might avoid challenges because they don't want to look bad.

What's a Growth Mindset?

When you believe your abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication.

  • "I can improve if I keep practicing."
  • "Mistakes help me learn and get better."
  • "Challenges help me grow!"

Explain that a growth mindset is believing your abilities can grow with effort. Emphasize that your brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with practice!

The Magic Word: YET!

Adding "yet" can transform your thinking!

  • "I don't understand this... yet."
  • "I can't do this... yet."
  • "I haven't mastered this... yet."

Introduce the idea of 'yet' as a magical word. It changes a statement from a final judgment to a temporary state with potential for growth. Ask for student examples.

From "Can't" to "Can"!

The Power of Yet helps us:

  • Stay positive when things are tough.
  • Keep trying even after mistakes.
  • Believe in ourselves and our ability to learn and grow!

Encourage students to think about how this word can help them personally. Reinforce that learning is a journey.

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Discussion

Growing Our Strengths Circle

Introduction (2 minutes)

"Welcome to our 'Growing Our Strengths Circle'! Today, we're going to talk about something really important: how we can grow our abilities, just like we grow taller or stronger. We often think of strengths as things we're just born with, but what if they can actually be developed and expanded?"

"Let's go around the circle. Share one thing you believe you are good at, or something you enjoy doing, even if it's just a little bit. It could be anything from playing a sport, solving puzzles, being a good friend, or telling stories."

Main Discussion Questions (10 minutes)

  1. "Think about a time when you weren't good at something, but with effort and practice, you got better. What was it? What did you do to improve?"






  2. "How did it feel when you realized you were improving? What does that tell you about your ability to learn and grow?"






  3. "Can you think of a strength someone else in this group has that you admire? How do you think they developed that strength?"






  4. "Why is it important to believe that we can grow and develop our strengths, even when things are challenging?"






Reflection and Wrap-up (3 minutes)

"Great job sharing and listening today! It's clear that all of us have experienced growth, and we all have the potential to develop new strengths. Remember, your brain is always learning and adapting. Every time you try something new, even if you make a mistake, you're building new connections in your brain and growing your abilities."

"What is one new idea you have about your own strengths after this discussion?"



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Worksheet

From 'Can't' to 'Can' Worksheet

Name: __________________________

Date: __________________________

Part 1: My Challenge

  1. Think about something you find challenging right now. It could be a subject in school, a skill you're trying to learn, or something personal. Describe this challenge below.












  2. What are some

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Growth Mindset • Lenny Learning