Growth Mindset

Introduction

• Bring the class together in a circle, either standing or seated.
• Explain that today, we will be looking at ways we face challenges and will start the class with an activity.
• Give all students the rope tied into knots.
• Tell them that their goal is to untie every knot from the rope in two minutes.
• Ask students to begin, and set a timer.
• Optional: Play the song "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor.
• As the students attempt to untie the knots, ask them to notice their thoughts and their mindset. Are they thinking "I can't do this" or "This is easy"?
• Tell them when they have 20 seconds left.
• Turn off the music once the two minutes are up, and tell the class to stop where they are.
• Ask them to notice if they feel disappointed, or if they have disappointing thoughts because they didn't finish. Or do they feel proud for successfully completing the task?
• Explain that today they will be learning about and discussing "growth mindset."
• Ask them to raise their hands if they have heard the term "growth mindset" before.
• Write "Growth Mindset" on the board.
• Ask the students what they think the words mean.
• Next, write "Fixed Mindset" on the board, and ask the class if they have heard this term before.
• Ask them what they think "fixed mindset" means.
• Play the video "Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset."
• As they watch the video, ask the students to take notes describing each mindset.
• After the video, have everyone come up to the board and write at least one thing they learned about each mindset (under where you previously wrote "Growth Mindset" and "Fixed Mindset").
• Ask student volunteers to come up and review what the class wrote on the board.
• Share and write the following definition of growth mindset: When a person believes they can develop and learn with hard work and dedication, and they see failure as a learning opportunity.