lenny

Growth Mindset Garden

user image
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Growth Mindset Garden

Students will be able to define fixed and growth mindsets, identify characteristics of each, and apply strategies to cultivate a growth mindset when faced with challenges.

Developing a growth mindset helps students understand that their abilities can grow through dedication and hard work. This lesson provides practical tools to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and foster resilience, which are crucial for academic success and personal well-being.

Audience

4th-6th Grade Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Through metaphors, discussions, and activities, students will actively explore growth mindset concepts.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Brain Boost or Brain Block?

5 minutes

  • Display a challenging math problem or riddle on the board.
    - Ask students to think about their initial reaction: Do they feel excited to try, or do they feel stuck before starting?
    - Facilitate a brief discussion, introducing the idea that our brains can respond differently to challenges. Transition to the slide deck. (Refer to Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 1-2)

Step 2

Introducing the Growth Mindset Garden

15 minutes

  • Use the Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck to introduce the concept of fixed vs. growth mindsets using the garden metaphor.
    - Explain that a 'fixed mindset' is like a rock—it doesn't change much, while a 'growth mindset' is like a plant—it grows with care and effort.
    - Facilitate a discussion using prompts from the slide deck to check for understanding. (Refer to Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 3-7)

Step 3

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset Worksheet

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Fixed vs. Growth Mindset Worksheet.
    - Instruct students to work individually or in pairs to categorize statements as reflecting a fixed or growth mindset.
    - Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
    - Review answers as a class, discussing why each statement fits into its category. (Refer to Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 8-9)

Step 4

Cultivating Growth: The 'Growth Sprout' Activity

15 minutes

  • Introduce the Growth Sprout Activity.
    - Explain that just like plants need water and sunlight to grow, our brains need effort and positive self-talk.
    - Guide students through the activity, where they write down a personal challenge and a growth mindset statement to help them overcome it.
    - Encourage sharing in small groups or as a class, if students are comfortable. (Refer to Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 10-11)

Step 5

Discussion: Watering Our Minds

7 minutes

  • Lead a class discussion using prompts from the slide deck.
    - Focus on how students can apply growth mindset thinking in their daily lives, both in school and at home.
    - Emphasize that it's okay to make mistakes and that challenges are opportunities for learning. (Refer to Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 12)

Step 6

Cool-Down: Seed of Thought

3 minutes

  • Ask students to write down one thing they will try to do or say differently this week to practice their growth mindset.
    - Collect these
lenny

Slide Deck

Welcome to the Growth Mindset Garden!

How do you feel when you face a challenge?

  • Excited to try?
  • Stuck before you start?
  • Nervous?
  • Determined?

Welcome students and get them thinking about challenges. This slide is meant to be an icebreaker and an initial survey of student feelings when faced with difficulty. No need to explain Fixed vs. Growth mindset yet.

Your Brain: A Super Grower!

Your brain is like a muscle... the more you use it, the stronger it gets!

Just like a garden, your brain can grow and bloom with care and effort.

Transition from the warm-up to introducing the core concepts. Explain that our brains are amazing and can grow, just like plants. This sets up the central metaphor of the lesson.

Fixed Mindset: The Rocky Path

What is a Fixed Mindset?

  • Believing your intelligence and talents are fixed.
  • Thinking you're either good at something or you're not.
  • Avoiding challenges to prevent looking

Introduce the idea of different ways of thinking about challenges. Explain that a 'fixed mindset' is a way of thinking where people believe their abilities are set in stone. Use the rock analogy.

Fixed Mindset Thoughts

Sounds like...

  • "I'm not good at this."
  • "It's too hard."
  • "I give up."
  • "I can't do it."
  • "Why bother trying?"

Provide examples of fixed mindset thoughts. Ask students if they've ever heard or thought things like this. Encourage them to share without judgment, as the goal is to recognize these patterns.

Growth Mindset: The Growing Garden

What is a Growth Mindset?

  • Believing your abilities can grow with effort and practice.
  • Seeing challenges as opportunities to learn.
  • Understanding that mistakes are part of learning.

Now introduce the 'growth mindset' as the opposite of a fixed mindset. Emphasize that effort and learning are key. Use the plant analogy.

Growth Mindset Thoughts

Sounds like...

  • "I'll keep trying!"
  • "What can I learn from this?"
  • "I can improve if I practice."
  • "Mistakes help me grow!"
  • "I'll ask for help if I need it."

Provide examples of growth mindset thoughts. Contrast these with the fixed mindset examples. Ask students how these thoughts feel different.

Fixed vs. Growth: Which will you choose?

Fixed Mindset = I can't do it!

Growth Mindset = I'll try my best and learn as I go!

Summarize the key difference visually. Reinforce the metaphor. This slide should help solidify the understanding before moving to the activity.

Worksheet Time: Sorting Our Seeds

Now, let's practice telling the difference between Fixed and Growth Mindset statements.

Work on your Fixed vs. Growth Mindset Worksheet!

Introduce the worksheet activity. Explain that they will be identifying statements as fixed or growth. Emphasize that it's okay if they find it tricky at first.

Reviewing Our Garden: Discussion

Let's review the answers to our worksheet.

What did you notice? Were some tricky to categorize?

After they've completed the worksheet, review the answers together. Facilitate discussion about why each statement belongs in its category. This is crucial for deeper understanding.

Activity: Cultivating Our Growth Sprout

Now, let's cultivate our own growth!

Think of something challenging for you, then write a growth mindset statement to help you through it. (See Growth Sprout Activity)

Introduce the 'Growth Sprout' activity. Explain that they'll be identifying a personal challenge and then reframing it with a growth mindset statement. Provide examples if needed.

Sharing Our Sprouts

Who would like to share their 'Growth Sprout' with the class?

Remember, sharing our challenges and our growth mindset strategies helps us all grow!

Encourage sharing in a safe environment. Remind students that everyone faces challenges and that sharing can help others. Emphasize the bravery in trying new ways of thinking.

Watering Our Minds: Daily Growth

How can you use a growth mindset in school?

How can you use a growth mindset at home?

Why is it important to have a growth mindset?

Lead a final discussion to tie everything together. Focus on practical application. Encourage students to think about how they can use these ideas outside of the classroom.

lenny

Worksheet

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset Worksheet

Instructions: Read each statement below. Decide if it shows a Fixed Mindset (believing abilities are set) or a Growth Mindset (believing abilities can grow with effort). Write an "F" for Fixed or a "G" for Growth in the space provided.

  1. "I'm just not good at math, so there's no point in trying harder."

    Mindset:


  2. "I made a mistake, but I can learn from it and do better next time."

    Mindset:


  3. "This puzzle is too hard. I give up."

    Mindset:


  4. "I love challenges because they help my brain grow!"

    Mindset:


  5. "If I practice my reading every day, I know I can become a better reader."

    Mindset:


  6. "She's so smart, she never has to study."

    Mindset:


  7. "I couldn't figure it out this time, but I'll try a different strategy."

    Mindset:


  8. "I don't like trying new things because I might fail."

    Mindset:


  9. "My effort is what helps me improve."

    Mindset:


  10. "I'm worried about what others will think if I don't get this right."

    Mindset:


Challenge Question:

Think about a time you faced a challenge. How did you react with a fixed mindset, and how could you have reacted with a growth mindset instead?














lenny
lenny

Activity

Growth Sprout Activity: Cultivating Your Mind

Instructions: Just like a tiny seed needs care to grow into a strong plant, your brain needs effort and positive thinking to grow! For this activity, you will identify a challenge and then 'water' it with a growth mindset statement.

Part 1: Your Challenge Seed

  1. Think of a Challenge: What is something you find difficult or a challenge you are currently facing? It could be in school (like a tricky math problem or a hard reading assignment), or outside of school (like learning a new skill or making a new friend).

    My Challenge Seed:







Part 2: Your Growth Mindset Water

  1. Turn it into a Growth Sprout: How can you rephrase your challenge using a growth mindset? Instead of saying "I can't do it," what could you say that shows effort, learning, or perseverance? Think about what you can do, what you will try, or what you will learn.

    My Growth Mindset Water (Positive Self-Talk):











Example:

  • Challenge Seed: "I'm really bad at drawing trees."
  • Growth Mindset Water: "I'm going to practice drawing different kinds of trees, and I know I'll get better with practice and by looking at how real trees grow."

Bonus: Draw a small sprout or plant around your growth mindset statement to remind yourself that your brain is always growing! If you're comfortable, you can share your Growth Sprout with a classmate or the class.

lenny
lenny

Discussion

Growth Mindset Discussion: Watering Our Minds

Instructions: Let's discuss how we can apply what we've learned about growth mindset to our daily lives. Listen respectfully to your classmates' ideas and share your own thoughts.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is one big difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset in your own words?


  2. Can anyone share a time when they had a fixed mindset about something? What happened?





  3. Now, can you think of a time when you used a growth mindset, even if you didn't call it that? What was the outcome?





  4. How can having a growth mindset help you when you're learning something new or difficult in school?




  5. How might a growth mindset help you when you're facing challenges outside of school, like in sports, hobbies, or with friends and family?




  6. What are some specific words or phrases you can use to encourage a growth mindset in yourself or your friends?




  7. Remember the 'Growth Sprout Activity'? What was one challenge you identified, and what growth mindset statement did you create for it?






  8. What is one small step you can take this week to practice having a growth mindset more often?



lenny
lenny