Lesson Plan
Growth Mindset Mission
Guide 5th grade students through four interactive 30-minute sessions to build self-management and resilience by applying CASEL’s growth mindset strategies, reframing challenges into opportunities, setting SMART goals, and reflecting on progress.
Teaching growth mindset helps students regulate emotions, persist through setbacks, and develop lifelong learning habits by viewing challenges as growth opportunities.
Audience
5th Grade Small Group
Time
Four 30-minute sessions
Approach
Interactive discussions, hands-on activities, reflective journaling
Materials
Brainpower Boost Slides, Challenge Chains, My Next-Level Goals Journal, Mindset Reflection Rubric, Chart Paper, Markers, and Sticky Notes
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the slide deck: Brainpower Boost Slides
- Print enough copies of Challenge Chains for each student
- Make journal booklets or printouts of My Next-Level Goals Journal
- Familiarize yourself with Mindset Reflection Rubric
- Gather chart paper, markers, and sticky notes for in-class brainstorming
Step 1
Session 1: Introduction to Growth Mindset
30 minutes
- Display Brainpower Boost Slides and introduce fixed vs. growth mindset concepts
- Discuss real-life examples and growth-mindset self-talk statements
- On chart paper, brainstorm common challenges and how to reframe them as opportunities
- Students write one personal challenge on a sticky note and share their reframed statement with the group
Step 2
Session 2: Embracing Challenges
30 minutes
- Introduce the Challenge Chains activity: identifying a challenge, obstacle, strategy, and growth outcome
- Students complete a challenge chain worksheet individually
- Pair-share completed chains and offer supportive feedback
- Facilitate discussion on breaking large tasks into manageable steps for better self-management
Step 3
Session 3: Goal Setting with Journals
30 minutes
- Explain SMART goal framework and its role in self-management
- Distribute My Next-Level Goals Journal
- Students set one academic and one personal goal, listing concrete action steps and timelines
- Small-group sharing: peers ask clarifying questions and suggest ways to strengthen goals
Step 4
Session 4: Reflection and Wrap-Up
30 minutes
- Review students’ goals and progress using the Mindset Reflection Rubric
- Individual reflection: rate personal use of growth-mindset strategies over the past sessions
- Group discussion: identify favorite strategies and brainstorm how to apply them to future challenges
- Celebrate progress and encourage students to revisit their journals regularly to track ongoing self-management
use Lenny to create lessons.
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Slide Deck
Brainpower Boost: Growth Mindset Rocks
Unlock your potential by reframing challenges as opportunities.
A four-session journey to build resilience, set goals, and celebrate progress.
Welcome students! Introduce the four-session Brainpower Boost deck. Explain that today they’ll learn how shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset can help them tackle challenges and build self-management skills.
What Is Growth Mindset?
• Belief that abilities develop through effort and strategy
• Embrace learning, persist through setbacks
• View mistakes as chances to grow
Define growth mindset in simple terms. Mention Carol Dweck and explain that our brains can get stronger with effort, strategies, and learning from mistakes.
Why Growth Mindset Matters
• Boosts perseverance and grit
• Improves problem-solving skills
• Builds self-confidence
• Leads to better learning outcomes
Share real-life examples (e.g., learning a sport or instrument) and ask students how persisting helped them improve.
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset:
• Avoid challenges
• See effort as pointless
• Give up easily
Growth Mindset:
• Embrace challenges
• View effort as path to mastery
• Learn from feedback
Contrast the two mindsets. Ask students for quick thumbs-up if they recognize a fixed-mindset thought they’ve had.
Growth Mindset Self-Talk
• “I can learn this with practice.”
• “Mistakes help me improve.”
• “I’ll try a different strategy.”
• “Effort grows my brain.”
Introduce simple self-talk statements students can use when they face difficulty.
CASEL’s Self-Management
Focus on:
• Regulating emotions and thoughts
• Setting and working toward goals
• Persisting through challenges using growth-mindset strategies
Explain CASEL’s Self-Management competency and how growth mindset strategies help students regulate emotions, set goals, and persist.
Session Roadmap
Session 1: Introduction to Growth Mindset
Session 2: Embracing Challenges
Session 3: Goal Setting
Session 4: Reflection & Wrap-Up
Preview all four sessions so students know what to expect and stay engaged.
Activity: Challenge Chains
Use the Challenge Chains worksheet to:
- Identify a Challenge
- List Obstacles
- Choose Strategies
- Anticipate Growth Outcome
Pair up to share and support each other.
Walk through each step of the Challenge Chains activity. Encourage real examples and partner feedback.
Activity: Next-Level Goals Journal
Learn the SMART framework and set:
• One Academic Goal
• One Personal Goal
Plan concrete steps and timelines in your My Next-Level Goals Journal.
Model creating one SMART goal before students begin. Then let students work independently and share in small groups.
Reflection: Mindset Reflection Rubric
With the Mindset Reflection Rubric:
• Rate your use of growth-mindset strategies (1–4)
• Identify strengths and areas to grow
• Share one insight with a partner
Demonstrate using the rubric. Prompt honest reflection and partner sharing of one insight.
Plan Your Next Growth Step
Identify one challenge you’ll tackle this week:
• Write the challenge
• Choose a strategy from our self-talk or challenge chains
• Set a simple goal to practice it
Post your plan on the chart for us to cheer you on!
Encourage students to commit to one action this week. Collect sticky notes with their next-step plans.
Keep Growing!
• Celebrate your progress
• Revisit your journal and strategies regularly
• Remember: Challenges = Opportunities
Any questions?
Celebrate the progress made today and remind students how to revisit their journals and strategies. Invite final questions.
Activity
Challenge Chains Worksheet
Use this activity to break down a challenge into obstacles, strategies, and growth outcomes. Fill in each section below.
1. Identify Your Challenge
What is one challenge you’re facing right now? Describe it in a sentence:
2. List Obstacles
What might get in your way? List at least two obstacles:
- ___________________________
- ___________________________
3. Brainstorm Strategies
What strategies can you use to overcome these obstacles? List at least two:
- ___________________________
- ___________________________
4. Predict Growth Outcome
How will using these strategies help you grow or learn? Write one or two sentences:
5. Reflection (Optional)
What did you learn about facing challenges and using a growth mindset today? Write a short reflection:
Journal
My Next-Level Goals Journal
Use this journal to set one Academic Goal and one Personal Goal using the SMART framework. Then plan action steps, timelines, and reflect on how you’ll use a growth mindset to succeed.
1. Academic Goal (SMART)
Write your academic goal here (make it Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound):
Break down your goal using SMART criteria:
- Specific: What exactly do I want to achieve?
- Measurable: How will I know I’ve met my goal?
- Achievable: What resources or skills do I need?
- Relevant: Why is this goal important to my learning?
- Time-bound: What is my deadline?
2. Personal Goal (SMART)
Write your personal goal here (think about hobbies, habits, or social skills):
Break down your personal goal using SMART criteria:
- Specific: What exactly do I want to achieve?
- Measurable: How will I track my progress?
- Achievable: What support or routines will help me?
- Relevant: Why does this matter to me?
- Time-bound: When will I complete it?
3. Action Steps & Timeline
List at least three concrete steps you will take to reach each goal. Include deadlines or checkpoints.
Academic Goal Steps:
- ________________________________________________________ Deadline: ____________
- ________________________________________________________ Deadline: ____________
- ________________________________________________________ Deadline: ____________
Personal Goal Steps:
- ________________________________________________________ Deadline: ____________
- ________________________________________________________ Deadline: ____________
- ________________________________________________________ Deadline: ____________
4. Growth Mindset Strategies
Which growth mindset self-talk or strategies will you use if you face challenges? (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn,” “I’ll try another strategy,” etc.)
5. Reflection & Monitoring
- What obstacles might come up?
- How will you overcome those obstacles?
- How will you know when to adjust your plan?
Keep this journal somewhere you can see it every day. Revisit your goals, celebrate progress, and update your steps as you grow!
Rubric
Mindset Reflection Rubric
Use this rubric to rate your use of growth mindset strategies and self-management skills. For each criterion, circle or highlight the level that best describes your performance.
| Criteria | 1 – Beginning | 2 – Developing | 3 – Proficient | 4 – Exemplary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Mindset Self-Talk | Rarely uses growth statements when stuck. | Sometimes says growth statements with reminders. | Often uses growth statements independently. | Consistently uses and models growth statements for peers. |
| Effort & Persistence | Gives up at the first sign of difficulty. | Persists with occasional prompts or help. | Persists through challenges using learned strategies. | Seeks out challenges and perseveres without prompting. |
| Reflection & Insight | Reflection is missing or very superficial. | Reflection mentions actions but lacks depth. | Reflection explains strategies used and lessons learned. | Reflection provides detailed examples, insights, and next steps. |
| Goal Progress & Planning | Goals are unclear or missing steps. | Goals set but lack SMART details or clear action steps. | SMART goals with clear steps and realistic timelines. | SMART goals with detailed steps, deadlines, and plan adjustments. |
Next Steps for Growth
For each criterion, write one specific action you will take to improve.
Growth Mindset Self-Talk:
Effort & Persistence:
Reflection & Insight:
Goal Progress & Planning: