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The Great Growth Mindset Adventure

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Lesson Plan

The Great Growth Mindset Adventure

Students will be able to define a growth mindset and identify the difference between a fixed and growth mindset. Students will learn to reframe mistakes as learning opportunities and develop strategies to embrace challenges with resilience.

Understanding a growth mindset is crucial for students to develop perseverance, foster a love of learning, and maintain a positive outlook on their academic and personal growth. It empowers them to see their potential and continually improve.

Audience

3rd-5th Grade Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Interactive narrative, group challenges, and reflective journaling.

Materials

Our Mindset Mountains Slide Deck](#mindset-mountains-slide-deck), Growth Mindset Adventure Game Cards](#growth-mindset-game-cards), My Growth Journey Journal](#growth-journey-journal), and Pencils/Markers

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Begin with the Our Mindset Mountains Slide Deck - Slide 1: Title and ask students: "Have you ever felt like something was too hard to learn? Or that you just weren't 'good' at something?"
    - Introduce the idea of our brains being like muscles that can grow stronger with practice. Use Slide 2-3 to explain fixed vs. growth mindset through a simple metaphor (e.g., a

Step 2

Mindset Mountains Exploration (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Use Our Mindset Mountains Slide Deck - Slides 4-7 to delve deeper into the characteristics of fixed and growth mindsets. Provide relatable examples.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion (2-3 minutes) using the questions on Slide 8: "What are some things you believe you can get better at with practice? What's one challenge you've overcome by trying again?"
    - Introduce the concept of reframing mistakes as learning opportunities. Use Slide 9 to illustrate this point.

Step 3

The Great Growth Mindset Adventure Game (20 minutes)

20 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
    - Explain the rules of The Great Growth Mindset Adventure Game using Slide 10. Each group will draw a card with a scenario and discuss how a fixed mindset person might react versus a growth mindset person.
    - Encourage groups to brainstorm growth mindset responses and share one or two with the class after a few rounds.
    - Circulate among groups, providing guidance and facilitating discussion.
    - Award points or small tokens for creative and insightful growth mindset solutions.

Step 4

Reflect & Grow (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Use Our Mindset Mountains Slide Deck - Slide 11 to recap key takeaways about growth mindset.
    - Distribute the My Growth Journey Journal.
    - Instruct students to complete the journal entry independently, reflecting on one challenge they want to approach with a growth mindset.
    - Encourage students to keep their journals and continue practicing growth mindset thinking.

Step 5

Cool Down (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Conclude with a quick cool-down activity. Ask students to share one
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Slide Deck

The Great Growth Mindset Adventure

Have you ever felt like something was too hard to learn? Or that you just weren't 'good' at something?

Greet students warmly. Ask a rhetorical question to get them thinking about challenges and self-perception.

Your Brain: A Super Strong Muscle!

Just like your muscles grow stronger when you exercise, your brain grows smarter when you learn new things and practice.

Introduce the idea of our brains being like muscles. Explain that everyone's brain can grow stronger with practice. Use a simple analogy.

Two Paths to Learning: Fixed vs. Growth

Imagine two paths up a mountain. One path is called 'Fixed Mindset' and the other is 'Growth Mindset.' Which path will help you reach the top?

Introduce the two types of mindsets: fixed and growth. Explain that a fixed mindset believes abilities are set, while a growth mindset believes abilities can be developed.

Fixed Mindset Valley

• "I can't do it."
• "It's too hard."
• "I give up easily."
• "Mistakes mean I'm not smart."
• Avoiding challenges.

Explain what a Fixed Mindset looks like. Give simple examples that resonate with 3rd-5th graders.

Growth Mindset Peak

• "I can learn anything with practice!"
• "This is challenging, but I'll try my best."
• "Mistakes help me learn and grow."
• "I love a good challenge!"
• Asking for help when needed.

Explain what a Growth Mindset looks like. Give positive, empowering examples.

Mindset Mountain Paths

Which mindset do you think helps you learn more and get stronger?

Provide a clear contrast between the two mindsets using the metaphor.

You Choose Your Path!

You have the power to choose how you think about challenges and learning.

Reiterate that we can choose our mindset.

Discuss & Share

  1. What are some things you believe you can get better at with practice?
    2. What's one challenge you've overcome by trying again?

Facilitate a short discussion to check for understanding and relate to personal experiences. Encourage participation.

Mistakes Make Your Brain Stronger!

Mistakes are not bad! They are clues that help your brain figure out how to do things better next time.

Emphasize that mistakes are valuable learning tools, not failures.

The Growth Mindset Adventure Game

Time to put your growth mindset into action! In groups, you'll tackle challenges and discover powerful ways to think.

Introduce the game activity. Explain that they will be practicing growth mindset thinking.

Keep Growing!

Remember, your brain is always ready to learn and grow. Every challenge is a chance to get smarter!

Summarize the key takeaways and transition to the journal activity. Encourage continued practice.

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Game

The Great Growth Mindset Adventure Game Cards

Instructions:

  1. Work in your small groups.
  2. Draw a card from the pile.
  3. Read the scenario aloud.
  4. Discuss:
    • How might someone with a fixed mindset react to this situation?
    • How would someone with a growth mindset react or think differently?
    • What advice would you give to the person in the scenario to help them use a growth mindset?
  5. Be ready to share your group's growth mindset reactions with the class!

Scenario Card 1: Math Mountain Mayhem

You are trying to solve a really tricky math problem. You've tried it three times, and each time you get the wrong answer. You feel frustrated and think, "I'm just not good at math."

Scenario Card 2: Art Attack!

You're drawing a picture for a class project, and you accidentally spill paint all over it. Your first thought is to crumple it up and throw it away, saying, "I ruined everything! I can't do art."

Scenario Card 3: Reading Roadblock

You're reading a new chapter in your book, and there are many words you don't know. You feel like the book is too hard, and you consider just stopping altogether. You think, "This book is too complicated for me."

Scenario Card 4: Team Trouble

During a group project, your idea isn't chosen by the rest of your team. You feel sad and think, "My ideas are never good enough. I shouldn't even bother sharing anymore."

Scenario Card 5: Sports Struggle

You're practicing a new sport, and you keep making mistakes. You see other kids doing much better, and you start to think, "I'll never be good at this. I should just stick to what I already know."

Scenario Card 6: Learning a New Skill

You want to learn to play a new instrument, but it's much harder than you thought. Your fingers keep getting tangled, and the sounds aren't very good. You think, "I'm not talented enough for this."

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Journal

My Growth Journey Journal

Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________

My Growth Mindset Reflection

Think about something you find challenging right now, either in school or outside of school. It could be a subject, a skill, or even a personal goal.

1. What is the challenge?







2. How does this challenge make you feel? What are some of your first thoughts when you face it? (Be honest!)












3. If you had a fixed mindset, what might you say or do about this challenge?












4. Now, how can you reframe this challenge with a growth mindset? What new thoughts or actions could you try?

  • Instead of thinking, "I can't do it," I could think: ____________________________________________________________________

  • Instead of giving up, I could try: ____________________________________________________________________

  • A mistake I might make could help me learn by: ____________________________________________________________________







5. Draw a picture of yourself conquering this challenge with a growth mindset!













I believe my brain can grow stronger by: ____________________________________________________________________

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