Lesson Plan
Facilitator Guide and Timing Notes
Students will learn to distinguish between fixed and growth mindsets and choose two effort-based strategies to apply this week, measured by a baseline pre-assessment and an exit ticket.
Understanding mindsets empowers students to embrace challenges, build resilience, and recognize that effort and strategies drive learning and success.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive teaching, hands-on activities, and reflection.
Prep
Prepare Materials and Review
10 minutes
- Print enough copies of Likert School Success Self-Assessment Pre/Post (10-item rubric), Mistakes Help Me Grow Card Sort, My Growth Strategy Menu, and Today My Brain Grew Reflection.
- Prepare and queue up the Mindset Powers On Slides.
- Gather any props or visuals for the Effort vs. Talent Scenarios discussion.
- Review all materials and rehearse key examples of fixed vs. growth mindset.
Step 1
Warm-up & Pre-assessment
7 minutes
- Distribute the Likert School Success Self-Assessment Pre/Post (10-item rubric).
- Ask students to complete it individually to establish a baseline of their self-perceived learning strategies.
- Emphasize that this is not graded but helps track growth over time.
Step 2
Teach Mindset Concepts
10 minutes
- Use the Mindset Powers On Slides to introduce fixed vs. growth mindsets.
- Define each mindset and provide relatable examples (e.g., learning a new sport or solving a tough math problem).
- Model positive self-talk and explain how making mistakes helps our brains grow (brain plasticity).
Step 3
Guided Practice: Reframing Mistakes
10 minutes
- Present the Effort vs. Talent Scenarios for whole-class discussion.
- In small groups, have students read a scenario and identify fixed-mindset thoughts vs. growth-mindset responses.
- Provide each group with the Mistakes Help Me Grow Card Sort and ask them to sort statements into “Fixed Mindset” vs. “Growth Mindset” and discuss why.
Step 4
Strategy Planning
10 minutes
- Hand out the My Growth Strategy Menu.
- Students review the list of effort-based strategies (e.g., setting small goals, asking for help, practicing reflection).
- Individually select two strategies they will implement this week and write how they’ll track progress.
- Encourage brief partner-sharing to reinforce commitment.
Step 5
Reflection & Exit Ticket
8 minutes
- Distribute the Today My Brain Grew Reflection as an exit ticket.
- Students reflect on one mindset shift they practiced today and how it helped.
- Collect tickets and remind students to post their chosen strategies in a visible spot at home or in the classroom.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Mindset Powers On
Welcome to our Growth Mindset lesson!
4th Grade • 45-minute session
Today we’ll learn how our thoughts can help our brains grow.
Welcome students and set a positive tone. Briefly introduce yourself and the lesson topic.
Learning Objective
Students will:
• Describe Fixed vs. Growth Mindsets
• Identify two effort-based strategies to use this week
We’ll check our understanding with a pre-assessment and exit ticket.
Read the objective aloud. Emphasize that we will measure baseline understanding and an exit ticket.
What Is a Mindset?
• A mindset is your attitude or beliefs about your abilities.
• It shapes how you approach challenges and learning.
Explain that mindset means the way we think about our abilities and intelligence.
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset:
• Belief that abilities are unchangeable
• Avoid challenges to not look ‘bad’ at something
Growth Mindset:
• Belief that abilities can improve with effort
• Embrace challenges to learn and grow
Show definitions side by side. Invite students to share examples.
Examples in Action
Fixed Mindset:
• “I can’t do math; I’m just bad at it.”
Growth Mindset:
• “This problem is hard—let me try a new strategy.”
Give real-life examples. Encourage students to think of moments they felt stuck or proud after trying.
Brain Plasticity & Self-Talk
• Our brains form new connections when we learn or make mistakes.
• Saying to yourself, “I can get better with practice,” helps you grow.
Discuss brain plasticity in simple terms. Model positive self-talk when facing a mistake.
Guided Practice Effort vs. Talent Scenarios
- In small groups, read your scenario.
- Identify any Fixed-Mindset thoughts.
- Transform them into Growth-Mindset responses.
- Be prepared to share with the class.
Introduce the group activity. Explain roles: reader, recorder, reporter.
Card Sort Activity “Mistakes Help Me Grow”
- Sort statements into Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset piles.
- Discuss why each statement fits its category.
- Notice how language shapes our thinking.
Explain how to use the card sort. Circulate to support groups.
Strategy Planning My Growth Strategy Menu
• Review a list of effort-based strategies.
• Choose two strategies to try this week.
• Write down how you’ll track each strategy’s progress.
Example: “Practice piano 10 minutes daily and mark off each practice.”
Distribute the menu. Encourage students to think of specific ways they’ll track progress.
Reflection & Exit Ticket
Complete the “Today My Brain Grew” reflection:
- Name one mindset shift you practiced.
- Describe how it helped you learn today.
Turn in your reflection before you leave.
Hand out reflection slips. Remind students to be honest and specific.
You’ve Got This!
Remember, your brain grows with effort and smart strategies.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and share your successes!
Thank the class. Remind them to display their chosen strategies and to revisit today’s ideas throughout the week.
Rubric
Likert School Success Self-Assessment Pre/Post (10-Item Rubric)
Rate each statement by selecting the number that best describes your agreement:
1 = Strongly Disagree | 2 = Disagree | 3 = Neutral | 4 = Agree | 5 = Strongly Agree
| # | Statement | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My intelligence is something I can’t change much. | |||||
| 2 | I enjoy challenging tasks even if they feel difficult at first. | |||||
| 3 | When I make a mistake, I often feel like giving up. | |||||
| 4 | I believe that effort and persistence help me improve my skills. | |||||
| 5 | I like to try new strategies when I’m stuck on a problem. | |||||
| 6 | I feel confident in my ability to learn new things when I work hard. | |||||
| 7 | I see mistakes as opportunities to learn something new. | |||||
| 8 | I often think, “I’m just not good at this subject,” when work gets tough. | |||||
| 9 | I look forward to tasks that challenge me and help me stretch my thinking. | |||||
| 10 | I believe that practicing regularly can make me better at skills I find hard. |
Activity
Mistakes Help Me Grow Card Sort
Cut out the cards below. Working with a partner or small group, sort each statement into one of two piles:
• Fixed Mindset
• Growth Mindset
After sorting, discuss why each statement belongs in its category.
Cards (cut-apart statements):
- I’m just not good at this.
- If I make a mistake, I’m not smart enough.
- I avoid challenges so I don’t look bad.
- Failure means I can’t do it.
- My intelligence is fixed and unchangeable.
- There’s no point in trying if I’m not a natural.
- I can learn anything with practice.
- Mistakes help me see what to work on next.
- Challenges make me stronger.
- I embrace hard tasks to grow my skills.
- Feedback shows where I can improve.
- Effort and strategies help me succeed.
Worksheet
My Growth Strategy Menu
Use this menu to choose two effort-based strategies you will practice this week to help your brain grow. After reading all the options, circle your two choices and plan how you’ll track your progress.
Growth Strategies (Circle two)
- Set small, achievable goals for each task.
- Ask a friend, classmate, or teacher for help when stuck.
- Break big tasks into smaller steps.
- Use positive self-talk (e.g., “I can get better with practice”).
- Reflect or journal about what you learned each day.
- Seek feedback and use it to improve.
- Visualize yourself succeeding at the challenge.
- Celebrate small wins and progress along the way.
My Plan
Strategy 1: ______________________________________________________________
How I will track my progress with this strategy:
Strategy 2: ______________________________________________________________
How I will track my progress with this strategy:
Place this sheet somewhere you can see it every day. Check off your tracking each time you practice your strategies. Good luck—and remember, effort and smart strategies help your brain grow!
Discussion
Effort vs. Talent Scenarios
In this activity, students work in small groups. Each group reads one scenario, identifies fixed-mindset thoughts, and then practices turning them into growth-mindset responses. Encourage students to refer back to examples from the slide deck and the card sort.
Scenario 1: Sophia’s Piano Practice
Sophia has been taking piano lessons for six months. She watches her friend play a difficult song perfectly after only a few tries. Sophia thinks, “I’m just not a natural pianist—I'll never sound that good.”
Discussion Prompts:
- What fixed-mindset thought did Sophia have?
- How could Sophia reframe her thought using a growth mindset?
- What effort-based strategy could help Sophia improve her playing?
Scenario 2: Carlos and the Math Test
Carlos studies hard but still gets a low score on his multiplication quiz. He tells himself, “I’m terrible at math; numbers just don’t make sense to me.”
Discussion Prompts:
- Which phrase shows Carlos’s fixed mindset?
- Rewrite Carlos’s thought into a growth-mindset statement.
- What could Carlos do differently next time to learn from his mistakes?
Scenario 3: Mia’s Soccer Tryouts
Mia practices soccer with her team, but she trips over the ball during tryouts. She feels embarrassed and thinks, “I’ll never be good at sports.”
Discussion Prompts:
- Identify the fixed-mindset reaction in Mia’s head.
- How would someone with a growth mindset respond?
- What small goal can Mia set to build her confidence on the field?
Scenario 4: Jamal’s Art Assignment
Jamal sees a classmate’s beautiful drawing and thinks, “I’m just not creative—my art will always look messy.”
Discussion Prompts:
- What fixed-mindset belief is Jamal expressing?
- Turn that belief into a growth-mindset thought.
- Which strategy from the Growth Strategy Menu could help Jamal practice his drawing skills?
Follow-Up Reflection
After each group shares:
- Which reframed statement was most inspiring?
- What common strategies did groups suggest?
- How can we apply these ideas to our own challenges?
Use this discussion to reinforce that talent isn’t fixed—effort and smart strategies help everyone grow. Encourage students to jot down one takeaway to use when they face their next tough task.
Journal
Today My Brain Grew Reflection
Use this exit ticket to reflect on the mindset work you practiced today. Be specific and thoughtful in your responses.
- Describe one fixed-mindset thought you noticed today and how you reframed it into a growth-mindset thought.
- Explain how this new way of thinking helped you learn or feel more confident during our activities.
- Which of your two chosen growth strategies from the menu will you continue using, and why is it important to you?
- What will you do this week to remind yourself to practice your growth strategies every day?
Thank you for your honest reflection! Turn in your slip before you leave so we can celebrate your growth.