Growth Mindset

A growth mindset believes in the power of yourself and your brain. A growth mindset is all about a person’s attitude when facing challenges and processing failures and how they adapt and respond to setbacks. Fostering a growth mindset can help build self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, social awareness, and goal setting.

Objectives

Students will describe the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset and will work together to complete an activity for having a growth mindset.

Materials

  • Worksheet
  • Growth Mindset Card Deck (If using during this lesson)
Growth Mindset

Academic Standards

6th Grade

PE 6.6.C The student is expected to demonstrate appropriate sporting behavior with teammates, opponents, and officials.

7th Grade

PE 7.6.C The student is expected to demonstrate self-responsibility and appropriate sporting behavior in game situations and sports.

8th Grade

PE 8.6.C The student is expected to follow rules, demonstrate appropriate sporting behavior, self-officiate, and respect consequences for the game being played without cue.

Growth Mindset

Discussion Questions

  • What is a growth mindset?
    • Do you know the difference between a growth and a fixed mindset?
    • Have you ever thought that something was too difficult for you or that you were the best at something and didn't need to work on improving anymore?
    • What are some examples that you can think of?

Reflection Questions

  • How can you apply what you’ve learned to your everyday life?
  • How often should you practice/reflect on having a growth mindset?
  • Why do you think it’s important to have a growth mindset?
  • Is it only important in sports or school?

Answer Key

Responses will vary. Encourage students to provide thoughtful, personal reflections that demonstrate understanding of growth mindset principles.

Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset

Setup

  • There is minimal set-up for this lesson.
  • Ensure that you are able to show a YouTube video. Identify: Growth or Fixed Mindset?
  • Prepare the Growth Mindset card deck (if you will use it for this lesson).

Vocabulary

Growth Mindset: The belief that intelligence, abilities, and talents can be developed through dedication, hard work, and learning.

Fixed Mindset: The belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are static traits that cannot be changed or improved upon.

Growth Mindset

Activity

  • Start the lesson by asking students what they think the difference is between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.
  • Ask for specific examples if they can provide them.
  • The main difference between these two states of mind is that someone with a growth mindset believes that intelligence and talent are ongoing journeys through which everyone can improve. People with a fixed mindset believe talent and intelligence are static and cannot be improved.
  • Tell students that in this activity, they will describe the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset and work in groups to complete a growth mindset activity.
  • Show the video below and pause the video after each example to have students discuss if they think it’s an example of growth or a fixed mindset. (Answers will be shown at the end.)
  • Have students discuss in small groups (turn and talk) why they think having a growth mindset is important. Then, share with the whole group.
    • In what capacity is a growth mindset important?
      • Sports, academics, hobbies, work, etc.
  • Pull a couple of cards to discuss the whole group using the Growth Mindset card deck (if applicable).
    • These can be a mix of fixed and growth mindset phrases or all from the same group, whatever you would like to do.
    • Using those cards, read the phrase out loud, have students share why they think that statement belongs in that category, and ask them to share what they think the opposite mindset phrase would be.
      • This is one suggestion for an activity with the card deck; you can utilize this any way you see fit for your students.
  • Have students work in small groups or with partners to complete the workbook page.
    • You could create a list of fixed mindset phrases together on the board to help give students an idea of what they could write in the word bubbles.
  • Lead students in a short reflection at the end of the lesson with the questions provided, or your own.

Additional Activity

  • Students can complete the goal-setting activity using the SMART Goals template and discuss why goal-setting is important to a growth mindset.
Growth Mindset