Lesson Plan
Growth Mindset Garden Lesson Plan
Students will distinguish between fixed and growth mindsets, learn to reframe challenges as opportunities, and cultivate resilience, using the metaphor of a garden.
Understanding growth mindset helps students persevere through difficulties, see challenges as chances to learn and improve, and ultimately achieve their full potential in school and life.
Audience
4th and 5th Grade Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Discussion, visual presentation, and hands-on activities.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck, Markers or pens, My Growth Garden Activity Sheet, Crayons or colored pencils, and Garden of Thoughts Journal
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the My Growth Garden Activity Sheet (one per student).
- Print copies of the Garden of Thoughts Journal (one per student).
- Gather markers, pens, crayons, or colored pencils.
Step 1
Introduction: What Does Your Garden Grow?
10 minutes
- Begin with a warm-up question: "If your brain was a garden, what kind of thoughts would you want to grow?"
- Introduce the concept of mindset using the garden metaphor. Use Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck (Slides 1-3).
- Explain that just like a garden, our minds need care to grow strong and healthy ideas.
Step 2
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
15 minutes
- Present the definitions and characteristics of fixed and growth mindsets using the Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck (Slides 4-7).
- Provide examples of statements for both mindsets. Ask students to identify which mindset each statement represents.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on how different mindsets might affect how we approach challenges.
Step 3
Weeding Out and Watering In
15 minutes
- Introduce the idea of "weeding out" negative, fixed mindset thoughts and "watering in" positive, growth mindset thoughts (using Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slides 8-9).
- Distribute the My Growth Garden Activity Sheet.
- Guide students to identify a challenge they faced and a fixed mindset thought they might have had. Then, encourage them to reframe it into a growth mindset thought, representing weeding and watering.
Step 4
Cultivating Resilience
10 minutes
- Discuss how consistent effort in changing our thoughts helps cultivate resilience (using Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 10).
- Share examples of famous people who showed resilience.
- Encourage students to share their reframed thoughts from the activity sheet if they feel comfortable.
Step 5
Journal Reflection & Wrap-up
10 minutes
- Distribute the Garden of Thoughts Journal.
- Ask students to write about one way they can apply a growth mindset this week.
- Conclude by reiterating that their brains are like gardens that can grow and change with effort (using Growth Mindset Garden Slide Deck Slide 11).
Slide Deck
Welcome to Your Growth Mindset Garden!
What kind of thoughts do you want to grow in your brain garden?
Welcome students and introduce the day's topic: how our thoughts help us grow, just like a garden. Pose the opening question to get them thinking metaphorically.
Your Brain: A Garden of Potential
Imagine your brain is a garden.
- What do gardens need to grow?
- Sunlight, water, good soil, and care!
Your brain is just like that! It can grow and change with care and effort.
Explain the garden metaphor. Emphasize that our brains are not fixed; they can change and grow, much like plants in a garden. Introduce the idea of nurturing our minds.
What's a Mindset?
A mindset is how we think about ourselves and our abilities.
It's like the climate in our brain garden!
- Do we think we can learn and improve?
- Or do we think our abilities are set in stone?
Introduce the concept of a "mindset." Explain that it's how we think about ourselves and our abilities. Lead into the two main types: fixed and growth.
Fixed Mindset: The "Can't Grow" Garden
People with a fixed mindset believe their basic abilities, intelligence, and talents are just fixed traits.
They think:
- "I'm either good at it or I'm not."
- "If I fail, it means I'm not smart."
- "Why bother trying if it's too hard?"
Introduce the 'Fixed Mindset.' Explain that people with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence and talents are unchanging. Give examples of common fixed mindset thoughts.
Growth Mindset: The "Always Growing" Garden
People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
They think:
- "I can learn anything if I work hard."
- "Mistakes help me learn and grow."
- "Challenges are opportunities to improve."
Introduce the 'Growth Mindset.' Explain that people with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication. Give examples of common growth mindset thoughts.
Fixed or Growth?
Read the statements below. Is it a Fixed Mindset or a Growth Mindset?
- "This math problem is too hard. I give up!"
- "I didn't get it right this time, but I can try a different strategy next time!"
Use an interactive slide to check for understanding. Present a scenario or statement and ask students to identify whether it's fixed or growth.
Fixed or Growth? (Another Example)
Read the statements below. Is it a Fixed Mindset or a Growth Mindset?
-
"I'm not good at drawing, so I won't even try the art project."
-
"I'll practice my drawing, and I know I'll get better!"
Another example to reinforce the concepts. Encourage quick responses and discussion about why it's fixed or growth.
Weeding Out Fixed Mindset Thoughts
Just like weeds can stop a garden from growing, fixed mindset thoughts can stop us from growing.
What are some "weeds" we need to pull?
- "I can't do it."
- "It's too hard."
- "I'm not smart enough."
Introduce the 'weeding' metaphor for fixed mindset thoughts. Explain that we can consciously choose to remove these unhelpful thoughts.
Watering In Growth Mindset Thoughts
To help our brain garden flourish, we need to water in growth mindset thoughts!
What are some "water" droplets for our garden?
- "I'll try my best!"
- "I can learn from my mistakes."
- "Effort helps me improve!"
Introduce the 'watering' metaphor for growth mindset thoughts. Explain that we need to nurture and encourage these thoughts to help our abilities blossom.
Cultivating Resilience
When we weed out fixed mindset thoughts and water in growth mindset thoughts, we build resilience.
Resilience means bouncing back when things are tough. It means not giving up and learning from our experiences.
A strong garden can withstand a storm!
Connect the concept of reframing thoughts to resilience. Explain that practicing growth mindset helps us bounce back from challenges stronger.
Your Garden, Your Growth!
Remember, your brain is a garden, and you are the gardener!
- Choose to plant seeds of effort and perseverance.
- Nurture your growth mindset daily.
- Watch your abilities blossom!
Conclude with a powerful reminder that students have the power to shape their own thinking and growth. Encourage them to apply what they've learned.
Activity
My Growth Garden Activity Sheet
Just like a garden needs care to grow, our minds need care too! Today, we're going to be gardeners of our own thoughts.
Part 1: Spotting the Weeds (Fixed Mindset Thoughts)
Think about a time when you faced a challenge or something felt difficult. What was it?
When you faced that challenge, what was a negative thought (a "weed") that might have popped into your head? This is a fixed mindset thought.
Example weed thought: "I'm not good at this, so there's no point trying."
Part 2: Watering the Flowers (Growth Mindset Thoughts)
Now, let's pull out that weed and plant a beautiful flower! How can you reframe that negative thought into a positive, growth mindset thought? This is like "watering" your brain garden.
Example flower thought: "This is challenging, but if I practice and ask for help, I can improve!"
Draw your "Growth Garden" below. In it, draw your challenge. Then, draw how you weeded out the fixed mindset thought and watered in a growth mindset thought. You can draw a wilting weed being pulled out and a healthy flower being watered!
Journal
Garden of Thoughts Journal
Your brain is an amazing garden, and you are the gardener! Just like a gardener chooses what to plant and how to care for their plants, you can choose how to nurture your thoughts and help your abilities grow.
Journal Prompt:
Think about what you learned today about fixed and growth mindsets. How can you be a better gardener of your own thoughts this week?
Write about one specific way you plan to use a growth mindset in school, at home, or with your friends this week. What challenge might you face, and how will you "weed out" a fixed mindset thought and "water in" a growth mindset thought?
Drawing Space:
Draw a small picture here that represents your growth mindset goal for the week! It could be you watering a new idea, or pulling out a stubborn weed of doubt.