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Is Your Mindset Fixed or Growing?

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Lesson Plan

Is Your Mindset Fixed or Growing?

Students will be able to differentiate between fixed and growth mindset statements and reframe a fixed mindset thought into a growth mindset one. (400 characters max)

This lesson is important because understanding mindsets helps students build resilience, embrace challenges, and improve their learning strategies. By recognizing fixed mindset patterns, students can actively work towards developing a growth mindset, which is crucial for academic and personal success. (400 characters max)

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive quiz, direct instruction, scenario analysis, and personal reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Mindset Quiz and Introduction

8 minutes

  • Warm-up & Hook (3 min): Begin with a quick Mindset Quiz (e.g., “Agree/Disagree: My intelligence is something I can’t change.”). Have students privately answer.
    * Introduce Topic (2 min): Explain that today we’ll explore how our beliefs about our abilities (our “mindset”) impact learning. Use Slide Deck: Fixed or Growing? (Slide 1-2).
    * Brief Discussion (3 min): Ask students if they’ve ever heard of

Step 2

Exploring the Two Mindsets

7 minutes

  • Define Mindsets (4 min): Use Slide Deck: Fixed or Growing? (Slide 3-5) to define Fixed Mindset (belief that abilities are static) and Growth Mindset (belief that abilities can be developed through effort). Provide clear examples.
    * Neuroplasticity (1 min): Briefly introduce the concept of neuroplasticity – our brains can grow and change! (Slide 6).
    * Quick Check (2 min): Ask students to quietly think of one difference between the two mindsets. Share out a few responses.

Step 3

Scenario-Based Role Play

10 minutes

  • Group Activity Setup (2 min): Divide students into small groups (3-4 students). Distribute Mindset Scenario Cards to each group. Explain the activity: each group will take a scenario and identify fixed mindset thoughts/responses, then brainstorm growth mindset reframes.
    * Group Work (6 min): Students work together to analyze their scenarios and reframe fixed mindset statements into growth mindset statements. Circulate to provide support.
    * Share Out (2 min): Invite one or two groups to share their scenario and their reframed growth mindset response.

Step 4

Personal Mindset Reflection

5 minutes

  • Individual Reflection (3 min): Ask students to think about a recent challenge they faced in school. On a piece of paper or digitally, have them write down any fixed mindset thoughts they might have had. Then, challenge them to reframe those thoughts into growth mindset statements. This can also be a quick journal entry.
    * Cool Down/Wrap-up (2 min): Reiterate the power of a growth mindset. Encourage students to practice recognizing and reframing their thoughts.
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Slide Deck

Is Your Mindset Fixed or Growing?

How your brain works can change how you learn and grow!

Welcome students and introduce the concept of mindsets. Explain that today's lesson will help them understand how their thinking can impact their learning.

Think About It...

Have you ever thought:
"I'm just not good at math."
OR
"This is hard, but I can figure it out if I keep trying."

These thoughts show different 'mindsets'!

Ask students to consider how they approach challenges. This slide is a gentle lead-in to the idea of different ways of thinking about ability.

What's a Fixed Mindset?

When you believe your abilities are set in stone.

  • Intelligence is fixed: "I'm either smart or I'm not."
  • Challenges are avoided: "Why try if I'm going to fail?"
  • Effort is pointless: "If I have to work hard, I must not be smart."

Define a Fixed Mindset clearly. Emphasize that it's about believing abilities are unchangeable.

What's a Growth Mindset?

When you believe your abilities can grow with hard work.

  • Intelligence can grow: "The more I learn, the smarter I become."
  • Challenges are opportunities: "This is a chance to learn and get better!"
  • Effort is key: "Working hard helps my brain get stronger."

Define a Growth Mindset clearly. Emphasize that it's about believing abilities can develop with effort.

Fixed vs. Growth

Fixed MindsetGrowth Mindset
Avoids challengesEmbraces challenges
Gives up easilyPersists in the face of setbacks
Ignores useful negative feedbackLearns from criticism
Feels threatened by others' successFinds inspiration in others' success

Provide a visual comparison to help students differentiate between the two mindsets.

Your Brain Can Grow!

It's called Neuroplasticity!

  • Your brain is like a muscle.
  • The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
  • New connections form when you learn new things!
  • Mistakes help your brain grow!

Introduce neuroplasticity as the scientific basis for a growth mindset. Keep it simple and engaging.

Practice Time!

Now, let's look at some real-life situations. How would someone with a fixed mindset react? How would someone with a growth mindset respond?

Transition to the activity. Explain that they will practice identifying and reframing mindsets.

You Choose Your Mindset!

Remember, you have the power to change your thoughts and grow your abilities!

This slide can be used to wrap up and reinforce the main message.

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Warm Up

Mindset Quiz: How Do You Think About Learning?

Read each statement below and think about whether you mostly Agree or Disagree. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest thoughts!

  1. My intelligence is something I can't change much. It's pretty much fixed.
    * Agree / Disagree


  2. When I struggle with something new, it means I'm not good at it.
    * Agree / Disagree


  3. I like to stick to tasks I know I'm good at, so I don't look foolish.
    * Agree / Disagree


  4. I believe that if I work hard, I can improve my abilities in almost anything.
    * Agree / Disagree


  5. Mistakes are frustrating, but they help me learn and get better.
    * Agree / Disagree


Choose ONE statement (from 1-5) and briefly explain why you agree or disagree with it.





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Discussion

Mindset Scenario Cards: Fixed to Growth

Instructions: In your group, read each scenario. Discuss how someone with a fixed mindset might react or think. Then, brainstorm and write down how someone with a growth mindset would react or reframe their thoughts. Be ready to share your ideas!

Scenario 1: The Tough Math Problem

You're working on a challenging math problem in class. You try it one way, and it doesn't work. You try another, and it's still wrong. You start to feel frustrated.

  • Fixed Mindset Response:


  • Growth Mindset Reframe:




Scenario 2: Learning a New Sport

You've joined a new sports team, and everyone else seems to be better than you. You keep making mistakes during practice and feel awkward.

  • Fixed Mindset Response:


  • Growth Mindset Reframe:




Scenario 3: Receiving Feedback on an Essay

You get an essay back with a lot of red marks and suggestions for improvement from your teacher.

  • Fixed Mindset Response:


  • Growth Mindset Reframe:




Scenario 4: A Friend Does Better Than You

Your friend gets a higher score than you on a test you both studied hard for, and they make it look easy.

  • Fixed Mindset Response:


  • Growth Mindset Reframe:




Scenario 5: Public Speaking

You have to give a presentation in front of the class, and you're really nervous about making a mistake or forgetting your lines.

  • Fixed Mindset Response:


  • Growth Mindset Reframe:




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Is Your Mindset Fixed or Growing? • Lenny Learning