Lesson Plan
The Power of 'Yet'
Students will differentiate between fixed and growth mindsets, analyze how mindset impacts learning, and apply 'yet' strategies to challenges.
Understanding growth mindset helps students overcome obstacles, embrace learning, and build resilience, leading to greater academic and personal success.
Audience
Grades 8-12
Time
50-60 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, reflective writing, and practical application.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers/pens, Handouts: Growth Mindset Reading, My 'Yet' Journal, Mindset Shift Activity, and Optional: Video clip about growth mindset (e.g., Carol Dweck TED Talk snippet)
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the The Power of 'Yet' Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print copies of the Growth Mindset Reading (one per student).
- Print copies of the My 'Yet' Journal (one per student).
- Prepare copies of the Mindset Shift Activity (one per student or one per small group).
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for the Growth Mindset Slide Deck.
- (Optional) Select and cue a short video clip on growth mindset.
Step 1
Warm-Up & Introduction (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Begin with an engaging question: "What's something you've struggled with, but eventually improved?" Have students share briefly.
- Introduce the concept of mindset using Growth Mindset Slide Deck (Slides 1-3). Explain the difference between 'fixed' and 'growth' mindsets, emphasizing the word 'yet'.
- Ask students to briefly jot down initial thoughts in their My 'Yet' Journal.
Step 2
Exploring Mindsets (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Distribute the Growth Mindset Reading. Give students 5-7 minutes to read silently.
- After reading, facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Growth Mindset Slide Deck (Slides 4-6) or the Growth Mindset Discussion Questions.
- Focus on real-world examples and how a fixed mindset can limit potential.
Step 3
The Power of 'Yet' Activity (20 minutes)
20 minutes
- Introduce the Mindset Shift Activity. Explain the instructions clearly.
- Students will work individually or in small groups to reframe fixed mindset statements into growth mindset statements using 'yet'.
- Circulate to provide support and guidance. Encourage creative and thoughtful reframing.
- Bring the class back together to share a few examples and discuss how the reframing felt.
Step 4
Reflection & Goal Setting (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Guide students to complete the reflection section in their My 'Yet' Journal, focusing on personal application.
- Encourage them to set a small, actionable goal for practicing a growth mindset in the coming week.
- Conclude by reiterating the main message: intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Slide Deck
The Power of 'Yet'
Cultivating a Growth Mindset
How do your beliefs about your abilities shape your success?
Welcome students and introduce the concept of the lesson. Engage them with an opening question about learning and challenges.
What is a Mindset?
Fixed Mindset
- Belief that intelligence and talents are fixed traits.
- Avoids challenges to prevent looking unintelligent.
- Gives up easily when faced with obstacles.
- Sees effort as fruitless or a sign of low ability.
- Ignores useful negative feedback.
- Feels threatened by the success of others.
Growth Mindset
- Belief that intelligence and talents can be developed through hard work and dedication.
- Embraces challenges as opportunities to grow.
- Persists in the face of setbacks.
- Sees effort as a path to mastery.
- Learns from criticism.
- Finds inspiration in the success of others.
Explain the two main types of mindsets: Fixed and Growth. Provide clear definitions and characteristics of each.
The Magic Word: 'Yet'
What does 'Yet' mean?
- It's a bridge from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
- It implies potential, progress, and future achievement.
Examples:
- "I can't do this." ➡️ "I can't do this yet."
- "I don't understand." ➡️ "I don't understand this yet."
- "I'm not good at math." ➡️ "I'm not good at math yet."
Introduce the pivotal role of the word 'Yet'. Explain how it transforms a fixed mindset statement into a growth mindset one. Give examples.
Why Does Your Mindset Matter?
Impact on Learning
- Motivation: Growth mindset fuels a desire to learn and improve.
- Effort: Encourages persistence and hard work.
- Resilience: Helps bounce back from failures and setbacks.
- Achievement: Leads to greater academic and personal success.
Your mindset isn't just a thought; it's a predictor of your potential!
Discuss the significant impact a growth mindset has on learning, resilience, and overall success. Ask students for their own observations.
Your Brain is a Muscle!
How Learning Changes Your Brain
- Every time you learn something new or struggle with a challenge, your brain forms new connections.
- The more you challenge yourself, the stronger and more efficient these connections become.
- Just like a muscle, the more you exercise your brain, the stronger it gets!
Use the metaphor of the brain as a muscle to illustrate how learning and challenges literally strengthen our cognitive abilities.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Strategies
- Recognize and Reframe: Catch fixed mindset thoughts and add 'yet'.
- Embrace Challenges: See tough tasks as opportunities, not threats.
- Learn from Mistakes: View errors as valuable feedback, not failures.
- Focus on Effort and Process: Celebrate hard work and strategies, not just outcomes.
- Seek Feedback: Ask for constructive criticism to identify areas for improvement.
- Be Inspired by Others: Use the success of others as motivation, not a source of envy.
Provide actionable strategies students can use to cultivate a growth mindset. Encourage them to think about how they can apply these.
Embrace the Challenge!
Challenges are Opportunities
- Growth happens outside your comfort zone.
- Every challenge you face is a chance to learn, adapt, and strengthen your abilities.
Building Resilience
- Resilience isn't about not falling; it's about getting back up.
- A growth mindset gives you the tools to persevere through tough times.
Reinforce the idea that challenges are essential for growth and that resilience is built through facing difficulties. Share a brief anecdote if appropriate.
Your Journey Starts Now!
What challenge will you face with a 'growth mindset' this week?
Remember: "I'm not good at it... YET!"
Conclude with an inspiring message and encourage students to start applying what they've learned today. Prompt them to think about one specific area where they can use 'yet'.
Journal
My 'Yet' Journal: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Part 1: Initial Reflections
Think about something challenging you've faced recently, either in school or outside of it. What was your initial reaction or thought when you encountered this challenge?
If you struggled with it, what thoughts went through your mind? Did you ever feel like giving up? Why or why not?
Part 2: Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
After our discussion, write down one statement you've heard (or thought yourself) that sounds like a fixed mindset. Then, reframe it using the word "yet" to make it a growth mindset statement.
Fixed Mindset Statement:
Growth Mindset Statement (using 'yet'):
Part 3: Personal Application & Goal Setting
Think about an area where you want to improve, or a challenge you anticipate facing soon. How can you apply the "power of yet" to this situation?
What is one specific, small goal you can set for yourself this week to practice having a growth mindset? Be specific about what you will do.
How will you remind yourself to use the "power of yet" when you encounter difficulty with this goal?
Reading
Understanding Your Mindset: Fixed vs. Growth
Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm just not a math person" or "I'm terrible at public speaking"? These statements often come from what is called a fixed mindset. On the other hand, someone with a growth mindset might say, "Math is tough, but I'm getting better with practice" or "Public speaking makes me nervous, but I'm working on improving."
What are Mindsets?
Dr. Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concepts of fixed and growth mindsets. Simply put, your mindset is your belief about your abilities and intelligence.
The Fixed Mindset
People with a fixed mindset believe their basic abilities, intelligence, and talents are just fixed traits. They think they are born with a certain amount of intelligence or skill, and that's it. This belief often leads to:
- Avoiding challenges: If success means you're smart, then failure means you're not. So, why risk it?
- Giving up easily: When faced with obstacles, they might think, "I'm not good at this," and stop trying.
- Ignoring feedback: Constructive criticism can feel like a personal attack on their fixed abilities.
- Feeling threatened by others' success: If someone else succeeds, it might make them feel less capable.
The Growth Mindset
In contrast, people with a growth mindset believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. They understand that brains and talent are just starting points. This perspective leads to:
- Embracing challenges: They see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
- Persisting through setbacks: Obstacles are viewed as chances to deepen their understanding and develop new strategies.
- Learning from criticism: Feedback is valuable information to help them improve.
- Finding inspiration in others' success: They learn from and are motivated by the achievements of others.
The Power of "Yet"
The simplest way to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset is by adding the word "yet" to your thinking. When you say, "I can't do it yet," you're acknowledging your current limitation but also expressing belief in your future ability to overcome it. This tiny word opens up possibilities for learning and improvement.
Your Brain Can Grow!
This isn't just about positive thinking; it's backed by neuroscience. When you learn new things, practice a skill, or even struggle with a problem, your brain actually changes. New neural pathways are formed, and existing ones become stronger. Your brain is like a muscle – the more you use it and challenge it, the stronger and more capable it becomes. This process, known as neuroplasticity, is the scientific basis for why a growth mindset is so powerful.
By understanding and intentionally cultivating a growth mindset, you unlock your potential to achieve more, learn continuously, and become more resilient in the face of life's many challenges.
Activity
Mindset Shift: From Fixed to Growth with "Yet"
Instructions: For each of the fixed mindset statements below, rewrite it to reflect a growth mindset. Remember to use the word "yet" where it fits best to show potential for learning and improvement. Explain how adding "yet" (or reframing the statement) changes the meaning and impact.
Statement 1:
"I'm just not good at public speaking."
Your Growth Mindset Reframe:
How does this change the meaning?
Statement 2:
"I got a bad grade on this test. I'm just not smart enough for this subject."
Your Growth Mindset Reframe:
How does this change the meaning?
Statement 3:
"This problem is too hard. I'll never figure it out."
Your Growth Mindset Reframe:
How does this change the meaning?
Statement 4:
"I can't draw anything well. I'm not artistic."
Your Growth Mindset Reframe:
How does this change the meaning?
Statement 5:
"I failed that project. I'm a complete failure."
Your Growth Mindset Reframe:
How does this change the meaning?