Lesson Plan
Growth Mindset Roadmap
Introduce growth mindset principles and strategies for reframing challenges, affirming strengths, and sharing successes to build resilience and positive mental health.
Developing a growth mindset helps students reframe setbacks as learning opportunities, boosts self-confidence, and fosters lifelong resilience and well-being.
Audience
9th Grade
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and hands-on activities.
Materials
Your Thoughts Matter Slides, Challenge Reframe Exercise, Daily Affirmations Prompt, Share a Win Discussion Guide, and Student Journals or Notebooks
Prep
Teacher Preparation
5 minutes
- Review Your Thoughts Matter Slides
- Print or set up digital copies of Challenge Reframe Exercise
- Prepare journaling space and hand out Daily Affirmations Prompt
- Familiarize yourself with discussion guidelines in Share a Win Discussion Guide
- Arrange seating for partner and small-group sharing
Step 1
Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Ask students to think of a recent challenge they faced in school or life
- Have them turn to a neighbor to briefly share the challenge
- Emphasize that noticing challenges is the first step toward growth
Step 2
Mini-Lesson
10 minutes
- Present Your Thoughts Matter Slides
- Define fixed vs. growth mindset with real-life examples
- Invite student input: Which statements sound growth-oriented? Which are fixed-oriented?
- Highlight how language shapes perception of success and setbacks
Step 3
Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute Challenge Reframe Exercise
- In pairs, students pick a fixed-mindset statement from the handout
- Guide them to collaboratively rewrite it into a growth-mindset statement
- Circulate and provide feedback; invite a few pairs to share their reframed statements
Step 4
Reflection
5 minutes
- Give students time to respond to Daily Affirmations Prompt in their journals
- Encourage them to write 2–3 positive statements about their abilities or recent progress
Step 5
Closure
5 minutes
- Use Share a Win Discussion Guide to facilitate a whole-class share
- Ask volunteers to share one personal win or affirmation they’re proud of
- Reinforce that celebrating small successes builds confidence and resilience
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Slide Deck
Your Thoughts Matter
• We all have a mindset: the way we think about our abilities and potential.
• Today we’ll learn how a growth mindset helps us face challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep improving.
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of today’s mini-lesson: understanding how our thoughts shape our success. Explain that the slides will explore what mindset is, the difference between fixed and growth mindsets, and how to shift unhelpful self-talk.
What Is Mindset?
• Mindset: A set of beliefs or attitudes that shape how we see ourselves and our abilities.
• Fixed Mindset: Belief that skills and intelligence are static; we’re born with them and can’t change them.
• Growth Mindset: Belief that abilities can be developed through effort, strategies, and help.
Define mindset in simple terms. Emphasize that mindsets aren’t fixed—you can change them. Ask: “Have you ever thought ‘I can’t do this’? That’s a mindset at work.”
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset:
– “I’m just not good at math.”
– Avoids challenges; gives up easily.
Growth Mindset:
– “I can get better with practice.”
– Embraces challenges; persists through setbacks.
Walk through each bullet. Invite a volunteer example for fixed vs growth. Reinforce that everyone uses both mindsets sometimes.
Examples in Action
Scenario 1 – Test Results:
• Fixed: “I got a low grade; I’m terrible at this subject.”
• Growth: “I can review what I missed and improve next time.”
Scenario 2 – Sport Tryouts:
• Fixed: “I’ll never make the team, so why try?”
• Growth: “I’ll practice a little each day and see progress.”
Present real-life classroom and life examples. Ask students: “Which mindset do you hear here?”
Shifting Your Language
Fixed Statement → Growth Statement
“I’m not good at this.” → “I’m not good at this yet, but I’ll keep working.”
“I failed, so I give up.” → “Failure shows me what I need to learn.”
“I always mess up spelling.” → “With practice, my spelling will get better.”
Explain how simple language shifts can rewire our thinking. Show the mapping and invite students to notice the pattern: adding ‘yet’, focusing on effort, and seeing mistakes as feedback.
Interactive Reflection
Read each statement aloud. Decide:
• Fixed or Growth?
- “I can’t do this assignment.”
- “I’ll never understand this topic.”
- “I learn best when I keep trying.”
After you decide, try reframing one fixed statement.
Facilitate a quick class activity: display or read statements and have students call out ‘Fixed’ or ‘Growth.’ Then ask for a volunteer to reframe one statement.
Your Next Growth Move
• Think of a recent challenge you faced in school or life.
• Write your first thought about it (fixed mindset).
• Reframe it into a growth mindset statement.
• Be ready to share with your partner.
Wrap up the mini-lesson by connecting back to their own experiences. Encourage them to use these reframes in the upcoming Challenge Reframe Exercise.
Activity
Challenge Reframe Exercise
Instructions for Students
- Get into pairs and review the examples below.
- Notice how each fixed-mindset statement is rewritten into a growth-mindset statement.
- Choose three fixed-mindset statements from the “Your Turn” table and collaboratively reframe them.
- Write your growth-mindset reframes in the blank column. Be prepared to share one of your reframed statements with the class.
Examples
| Fixed Mindset Statement | Growth Mindset Reframe |
|---|---|
| “I’m just not good at this.” | “I’m not good at this yet, but I’ll keep practicing and learning.” |
| “I always mess up presentations.” | “With practice and feedback, my presentation skills will improve.” |
Your Turn
| Fixed Mindset Statement | Growth Mindset Reframe |
|---|---|
| “I can’t do this assignment.” | |
| “I failed the test, so I’m a failure.” | |
| “I don’t have any talent in sports.” | |
| “I’ll never get this right.” |
Take 10 minutes for this exercise. Then, volunteers will share one reframed statement to highlight how language shifts help us grow and learn.
Journal
Daily Affirmations Prompt
Affirmation Statements
Write two to three positive statements about your abilities or accomplishments.
Reflection on Importance
Why is each affirmation important to you? How does it relate to your growth and goals?
Next Steps
Identify one action you will take today to support or build on these affirmations.
Discussion
Share a Win Discussion Guide
Discussion Purpose
Celebrate personal successes and reinforce how a growth mindset contributed to those wins. Build community by listening, encouraging, and learning from each other’s experiences.
Discussion Norms
- Respectful Listening: Give each speaker your full attention.
- Encouragement: Offer positive feedback (e.g., “That’s awesome!” or “I’m proud of you!”).
- Confidentiality: What’s shared in the circle stays in the circle—create a safe space.
- Equal Voice: Everyone who wants to share gets a chance.
Guiding Questions
- What Win Are You Celebrating?
• Describe one thing you accomplished recently—big or small. - What Challenges Did You Overcome?
• What obstacles or negative thoughts did you face before this win? - Which Growth Mindset Strategy Helped You?
• Did you reframe a fixed-mindset thought using “yet”?
• Did you try a new approach or ask for feedback? - How Does This Win Motivate You Going Forward?
• What’s your next goal based on this success?
Follow-Up Prompts (If Time Allows)
- Peer Questions: Invite classmates to ask one question—“What was the hardest part?” or “How did you stay motivated?”
- Group Reflection: As a class, identify one common theme (e.g., persistence, asking for help).
- Action Planning: Ask each student to name one action they’ll take this week to keep that momentum.
Teacher Tips
- Model the first share to set tone and structure.
- Keep track of speakers to ensure balanced participation.
- Highlight language that shows growth mindset: “yet,” “feedback,” “practice.”
- Reinforce that small wins matter as much as big ones.
Time: 5 minutes
Goal: End on a high note—students leave feeling capable and supported.