lenny

Your Mindset Matters!

user image

Lesson Plan

Your Mindset Matters!

Students will be able to define what a positive mindset is, identify how it impacts their confidence, and practice strategies to cultivate a more positive outlook.

Developing a positive mindset and confidence are essential life skills that help students navigate challenges, build healthy relationships, and achieve their goals. This lesson provides practical tools for personal growth.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

20 minutes (lesson) + 30 minutes (worksheet)

Approach

Interactive discussion, visual aids, and individual reflection.

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Review the Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck, Your Mindset Matters! Script, and Positive Mindset Boost Worksheet. Ensure all materials are ready for presentation and distribution.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Your Vibe?

5 minutes

Begin with a quick warm-up activity to gauge students' initial feelings and introduce the concept of mindset. Use the Warm-Up: What's Your Vibe? material.

Step 2

Introduction to Mindset

5 minutes

Introduce the concept of a positive mindset and its connection to confidence. Use the first few slides of the Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck and follow the Your Mindset Matters! Script.

Step 3

Mindset in Action & Discussion

5 minutes

Present scenarios where mindset plays a key role. Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Your Mindset Matters! Script to encourage student participation and share experiences. Continue with the Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck.

Step 4

Strategies for a Positive Mindset

5 minutes

Introduce practical strategies for cultivating a positive mindset and boosting confidence. Conclude the main lesson using the Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck and Your Mindset Matters! Script.

Step 5

Worksheet: Positive Mindset Boost

30 minutes

Distribute the Positive Mindset Boost Worksheet for individual reflection and practice. Students should complete this independently as a follow-up activity. Review answers using the Positive Mindset Boost Answer Key after completion.

Step 6

Cool-Down: One Word Wonder

5 minutes

Conclude the session with a brief cool-down activity to summarize key takeaways. Use the Cool-Down: One Word Wonder material.

lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Your Mindset Matters!

How does what you think affect how you feel and what you do?

Welcome students and introduce the lesson's theme. Ask them to think about what 'mindset' means to them.

What is a Positive Mindset?

  • Seeing Challenges as Opportunities: Instead of roadblocks.
  • Learning from Mistakes: Every 'oops' is a chance to grow.
  • Believing in Your Abilities: Knowing you can learn and improve.
  • Focusing on Solutions: Finding ways to make things better.

It's not about being happy all the time, but about how you approach life's ups and downs!

Explain what a positive mindset is: focusing on possibilities, learning from mistakes, and believing in yourself.

Mindset Fuels Confidence

  • Positive Thoughts = Positive Actions: When you believe you can, you're more likely to try.
  • Resilience: Bouncing back stronger after setbacks.
  • Taking Risks: Trying new things without fear of failure.
  • Speaking Up: Sharing your ideas and opinions.

Think about a time your thoughts helped you feel more confident!

Discuss how a positive mindset directly influences confidence. Give examples of how internal thoughts affect external actions.

Scenario Challenge!

Scenario 1: You get a lower grade on a test than you expected.

  • Fixed Mindset: "I'm just not smart enough for this subject." (Gives up)
  • Growth Mindset: "I need to study differently next time. What can I learn from this?" (Seeks improvement)

Scenario 2: You're asked to present in front of the class.

  • Fixed Mindset: "I'm going to mess up. Everyone will laugh." (Avoids)
  • Growth Mindset: "This is a chance to practice my public speaking. I can prepare well." (Embraces challenge)

Present a couple of simple scenarios and ask students to consider how different mindsets might play out. Encourage quick responses.

Boost Your Mindset & Confidence!

  • Positive Affirmations:

Introduce actionable strategies students can use immediately.

lenny

Warm Up

Warm-Up: What's Your Vibe Today?

Instructions: On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is feeling super low energy/negative and 5 is feeling pumped/positive, circle the number that best describes your current vibe.


1 2 3 4 5



Quick Share: Turn to a partner and share ONE word that describes why you picked that number. No need for long explanations, just one word!

lenny
lenny

Script

Your Mindset Matters! Teacher Script

Warm-Up: What's Your Vibe? (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Let's kick things off with a quick check-in. Take a look at the Warm-Up: What's Your Vibe? that's on your desk/screen."

(Teacher says): "On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is feeling super low energy or negative, and 5 is feeling pumped and positive, just circle the number that best describes your current vibe. No need to overthink it!"

(Teacher says): "Now, turn to a partner. Share just ONE word that describes why you picked that number. Just one word, no long stories. Let's take about two minutes for this." (Allow 2 minutes for quick partner shares).

(Teacher says): "Alright, class, bring it back. Thank you for sharing. This little check-in helps us see where we are starting the day. And it actually leads us right into our topic for today: Your Mindset Matters!"

Introduction to Mindset (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "(Advance to Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck - Slide 1: Your Mindset Matters!)"

(Teacher says): "Have you ever noticed how some days you just feel 'on it' and other days, everything seems to go wrong? A lot of that can come down to something called your mindset."

(Teacher says): "What do you think 'mindset' means? Take a moment to think about it. (Pause for a few seconds)."

(Teacher says): "(Advance to Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is a Positive Mindset?)"

(Teacher says): "A positive mindset isn't about being happy all the time. That's unrealistic! Instead, it's about how you approach challenges, how you learn from mistakes, and whether you believe in your ability to grow. Look at these points on the slide. Which one resonates with you the most right now? (Allow a few student responses or a moment for reflection)."

Mindset in Action & Discussion (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "(Advance to Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck - Slide 3: Mindset Fuels Confidence)"

(Teacher says): "So, how does this 'mindset' thing connect to something really important: confidence? Your thoughts are incredibly powerful. When you have positive thoughts, you're more likely to take positive actions. It helps you bounce back from setbacks – that's called resilience. It helps you take risks, like trying out for a team or speaking up in class. It also gives you the courage to share your ideas."

(Teacher says): "Can anyone think of a time when having a positive outlook helped them feel more confident about something? Or maybe a time when negative thoughts held them back? (Call on 1-2 students for brief shares, or have them do a quick turn-and-talk)."

(Teacher says): "(Advance to Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Scenario Challenge!)"

(Teacher says): "Let's look at some quick scenarios. Imagine this: You get a lower grade on a test than you expected. How might someone with a 'fixed mindset' react? And how might someone with a 'growth mindset' react? (Guide students to differentiate between 'I'm bad at this' vs. 'What can I do to improve?')."

(Teacher says): "Now, second scenario: You're asked to present in front of the class. How do these two mindsets approach this challenge? (Encourage students to see how a growth mindset embraces the opportunity to learn, even if it's scary)."

Strategies for a Positive Mindset (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "(Advance to Your Mindset Matters! Slide Deck - Slide 5: Boost Your Mindset & Confidence!)"

(Teacher says): "So, how do we actually build a more positive mindset and boost our confidence? It takes practice, just like any skill. One powerful tool is positive affirmations. These are positive statements you say to yourself regularly. For example, instead of thinking, 'I can't do this,' you might say, 'I am capable, and I can learn anything.' We'll explore these more on your worksheet."

(Teacher says): "Another strategy is focusing on your strengths. What are you good at? What makes you unique? Acknowledging your strong points helps build confidence. We'll also look at reframing negative thoughts into more positive ones."

Worksheet: Positive Mindset Boost (30 minutes - Follow-up)

(Teacher says): "We've covered a lot about what a positive mindset is and why it matters. Now it's your turn to dig a little deeper with the Positive Mindset Boost Worksheet. This worksheet will give you a chance to reflect on your own mindset and practice some of the strategies we just talked about."

(Teacher says): "You'll be working on this independently for about 30 minutes. Make sure to read all the instructions carefully. When you're done, we will go over the answers using the Positive Mindset Boost Answer Key. If you have any questions, please raise your hand, and I'll come around to help."

Cool-Down: One Word Wonder (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "(After the worksheet and review, or at the end of the next class period if the worksheet is homework)."

(Teacher says): "To wrap up today, let's do a quick cool-down. Take a moment to think about everything we've discussed about positive mindsets and confidence. What is ONE word that you are taking away from this lesson? It could be a new idea, a feeling, or something you want to remember. We will use the Cool-Down: One Word Wonder material for this."

(Teacher says): "You can write it down on your cool-down sheet, and then we'll share a few out if time permits. Think about how this one word might influence your thinking in the coming days."

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Positive Mindset Boost Worksheet

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Part 1: Reflecting on Your Mindset (10 minutes)

  1. In your own words, what does having a positive mindset mean to you? How is it different from just being happy all the time?







  2. Think about a time recently when you faced a challenge (e.g., a difficult assignment, a sporting event, a disagreement with a friend). Describe the challenge and how your mindset (positive or negative) affected the outcome or your feelings about it.












  3. Why do you think a positive mindset is important for building confidence? Give an example from your own life or something you've observed.












Part 2: Practicing Positive Strategies (20 minutes)

A. Reframe It! (10 minutes)

Negative thoughts can pop up often. For each negative thought below, try to reframe it into a more positive or growth-oriented statement.

Negative ThoughtReframed Positive Thought
"I'm not good enough to do this."
"This is too hard; I'll never understand it."
"I made a mistake, now everyone thinks I'm dumb."
"No one cares what I have to say."













B. Confidence Boost Affirmations (10 minutes)

Write down three positive affirmations that you can tell yourself when you need a confidence boost or are facing a challenge. These should be statements that make you feel capable and strong.













Challenge: Try to use one of these affirmations today or this week when you feel yourself doubting your abilities!

lenny
lenny

Answer Key

Positive Mindset Boost Answer Key

Part 1: Reflecting on Your Mindset

  1. In your own words, what does having a positive mindset mean to you? How is it different from just being happy all the time?

    • Thought Process: Students should demonstrate an understanding that a positive mindset is not about constant happiness, but about one's approach to situations and challenges. It involves viewing difficulties as opportunities for growth and believing in one's ability to learn and adapt.
    • Sample Answer: A positive mindset means choosing to look for the good or a learning opportunity in situations, even when they are tough. It's different from being happy all the time because you can still feel frustrated or sad, but a positive mindset helps you deal with those feelings and move forward instead of getting stuck.
  2. Think about a time recently when you faced a challenge (e.g., a difficult assignment, a sporting event, a disagreement with a friend). Describe the challenge and how your mindset (positive or negative) affected the outcome or your feelings about it.

    • Thought Process: Students should reflect on a personal experience and connect their internal thoughts/mindset to the resulting actions or emotions. This is subjective but should show a clear link between mindset and outcome.
    • Sample Answer: Challenge: I had a really hard math problem on my homework. Mindset: At first, I thought,
lenny
lenny
Your Mindset Matters! • Lenny Learning