Lesson Plan
Mindset Superpower Quest
Students will develop a growth mindset, practice emotional regulation, and build executive functioning skills through interactive challenges and reflection tasks.
Strengthening these core skills helps students view setbacks as learning opportunities, manage strong emotions, and plan tasks effectively—building resilience and academic confidence.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on quests, guided reflection, and strategy practice
Materials
- Quest Map Poster, - Challenge Cards, - Feeling Wheel Chart, - Emotion Regulation Strategies Sheet, - Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer, - Timer or Stopwatch, and - Chart Paper and Markers
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Print or display the Quest Map Poster and hang it where all students can see.
- Print and cut out the Challenge Cards and shuffle into a stack.
- Prepare copies of the Feeling Wheel Chart and Emotion Regulation Strategies Sheet for each student.
- Make individual Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer packets.
- Set up a visible timer or have a stopwatch ready.
- Review all materials and familiarize yourself with each activity's flow.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Welcome students and explain today’s adventure: the Mindset Superpower Quest.
- Show the Quest Map Poster outlining the three stations: Growth Mindset, Emotion Regulation, and Planning Power.
- Briefly discuss the idea of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset.
- Set class expectations: try new challenges, support peers, and reflect honestly.
Step 2
Station 1: Growth Mindset Quest
8 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and give each group 2–3 Challenge Cards.
- Each card describes a classroom or puzzle challenge (e.g., tricky math riddle, word scramble).
- Students attempt the challenge; if they get stuck, they choose a growth mindset mantra (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn!”) and try again.
- After 5 minutes, groups share one challenge they overcame and which mantra helped them.
Step 3
Station 2: Emotion Regulation
7 minutes
- Gather students around the Feeling Wheel Chart.
- Briefly review common emotions and introduce one regulation strategy from the Emotion Regulation Strategies Sheet (e.g., deep breathing, counting to ten).
- Prompt students to think of a recent moment they felt frustrated or anxious.
- In pairs, students role-play the scenario and practice the chosen strategy.
- Invite 2–3 volunteers to demonstrate for the whole group.
Step 4
Station 3: Executive Functioning Challenge
7 minutes
- Distribute the Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer.
- Explain that each color band represents a planning step: goal, tasks, order, time estimate, checkpoint.
- Present a simple classroom project (e.g., organizing a book display).
- As a group, fill in the organizer on chart paper, modelling each step.
- Students then complete their own organizer for a mini-task (e.g., packing up materials) using the Rainbow Planner.
Step 5
Reflection & Wrap-Up
3 minutes
- Bring students back to circle. Ask volunteers: Which station helped you most today? Why?
- Review key takeaways: growth mindset mantras, emotion strategies, and planning steps.
- Encourage students to use at least one strategy tomorrow and share how it went.
- Congratulate them on completing the Mindset Superpower Quest!
Slide Deck
Mindset Superpower Quest
Boosting Growth Mindset, Emotional Regulation & Planning Power
Welcome everyone to our Mindset Superpower Quest! Introduce yourself and explain that today we’re on an exciting adventure to grow our brains, manage our feelings, and sharpen our planning skills.
Today’s Objectives
• Develop a Growth Mindset: See mistakes as opportunities to learn
• Practice Emotion Regulation: Identify and manage big feelings
• Build Executive Functioning: Plan and organize tasks step-by-step
Read through each objective and emphasize why it matters. Tell students these are the goals for today’s journey.
Quest Map & Agenda
Stations:
• Station 1: Growth Mindset Quest (8 min)
• Station 2: Emotion Regulation (7 min)
• Station 3: Planning Power (7 min)
• Reflection & Wrap-Up (3 min)
Show the Quest Map Poster and point out each station. Explain the time at each stop and the final reflection.
Station 1: Growth Mindset Quest
• Work in teams with Challenge Cards
• Attempt puzzles or riddles
• If stuck, choose a mantra (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn!”)
• After 5 min, share one challenge and mantra used
Divide students into small groups, hand out 2–3 Challenge Cards per group, and set the timer for 5 minutes. Remind them to pick a growth mindset mantra when they get stuck.
Station 2: Emotion Regulation
• Review emotions on the Feeling Wheel Chart
• Introduce a strategy from the Emotion Regulation Strategies Sheet (e.g., deep breathing)
• Role-play a recent feeling in pairs
• Volunteer demonstrations
Gather students around the Feeling Wheel Chart. Model one regulation strategy from the Emotion Regulation Strategies Sheet. Prompt pairs to role-play and then invite volunteers to demonstrate.
Station 3: Planning Power
• Use the Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer
• Color bands = Goal, Tasks, Order, Time Estimate, Checkpoint
• Group example: plan a book display
• Individual mini-task planning
Model filling out the Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer on chart paper. Then hand out individual planners and ask students to plan a simple task like packing up materials.
Reflection & Wrap-Up
• Which station helped you most today? Why?
• Review: Mantras, emotion strategies, planning steps
• Encourage practicing at home or tomorrow
Guide students back to the carpet. Use a talking stick or just popcorn style to ask volunteers which station helped them most and why.
You Did It!
Great job completing the Mindset Superpower Quest!
Keep practicing your growth mindset, emotion regulation, and planning powers every day.
Give students a big round of applause. Encourage them to look for opportunities to use their new superpowers throughout the day.
Activity
Quest Map Poster
Follow the path on our Mindset Superpower Quest!
Visualize each stop and get ready for adventure.
🎒 Start: Mindset Gate
• Gather at the starting line and get your quest gear ready!
⬇️
🧠 Station 1: Growth Mindset Quest (8 min)
• Face fun puzzles and riddles
• Use a mantra when you get stuck (e.g., “Mistakes help me learn!”)
⬇️
💖 Station 2: Emotion Regulation (7 min)
• Explore the Feeling Wheel
• Practice a calming strategy (deep breaths, counting to ten)
⬇️
🌈 Station 3: Planning Power (7 min)
• Grab your Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer
• Map out a mini-task step-by-step
⬇️
🏆 Finish: Reflection & Wrap-Up (3 min)
• Circle up and share your favorite station
• Celebrate your new superpowers!
—
Keep this map displayed so everyone knows where to go next!
Activity
Challenge Cards
Print and cut out these cards. Each group picks 2–3 cards and works through the challenge. If you get stuck, choose a growth mindset mantra and try again!
Card 1: Math Riddle
I am an odd number between 10 and 20. My digits add up to 9. What number am I?
Card 2: Number Pattern
What number comes next in the pattern?
2, 4, 8, 16, __
Card 3: Word Scramble
Unscramble the letters to find a school item:
TEBLI
Card 4: Word Scramble
Unscramble the letters to find a fruit:
LEPPA
Card 5: Logic Puzzle
If you have 3 cats and each cat has 4 kittens, how many kittens are there in total?
Card 6: Riddle
I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter but can’t go outside. What am I?
Card 7: Math Story Problem
Two siblings share a total of 14 stickers. One sibling has 2 more stickers than the other. How many stickers does each sibling have?
Card 8: Word Scramble
Unscramble the letters to find something you write on:
RWIET
Worksheet
Emotion Regulation Strategies Sheet
Use these strategies to calm your mind and body when you feel strong emotions. Practice each one and think about how it helps you.
Strategy 1: Deep Breathing
- Breathe in slowly through your nose for 4 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 2 seconds.
- Breathe out slowly through your mouth for 6 seconds.
Practice now:
(How did your body feel after deep breathing?)
Strategy 2: Counting to Ten
- When you feel upset, take a deep breath.
- Slowly count from 1 to 10 in your head.
- Notice how your mind and body begin to calm.
Practice now:
I felt __________ when I counted to ten. Counting helped me because…
Strategy 3: Calm-Down Jar Visualization
- Imagine a jar filled with colorful beads.
- Shake the jar in your mind (or use a real one!).
- Watch the beads settle as you breathe.
Practice now:
Draw or describe your calm-down jar:
Strategy 4: S.T.O.P. Technique
- S: Stop what you are doing.
- T: Take a deep breath.
- O: Observe how you feel (name your emotion).
- P: Proceed with a calm choice.
Practice now:
Write a time when you can use S.T.O.P.:
Reflection: Your Go-To Strategy
Which strategy helped you the most today? Why?
Worksheet
Rainbow Planning Graphic Organizer
Use the color bands below to plan a mini-task step by step. Think of a simple classroom task (e.g., packing up materials, organizing books) and fill in each section.
🔴 Red Band — Goal
What is the main goal you want to achieve?
🟠 Orange Band — Tasks
List the tasks you need to complete to reach your goal:
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
(You can add more tasks if needed.)
🟡 Yellow Band — Order
Number your tasks in the order you will do them:
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
🟢 Green Band — Time Estimate
Estimate how many minutes each task will take:
• Task 1: ______ minutes
• Task 2: ______ minutes
• Task 3: ______ minutes
🔵 Blue Band — Checkpoint
How will you know you are on track? What will you check, and when?
Reflection: What Worked & Next Steps
After you finish, think about how your plan went.
• What worked well?
• What could you change next time?