We've all heard students say things like "I can't do this!" or "I'm just not good at writing!" And we've probably all reminded them about the power of YET!
But here's the thing about growth mindset: It's not a one-and-done lesson.
Helping students embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep trying takes practice. That's why I love weaving growth mindset activities into lessons throughout the school year.
I've rounded up 9 fun ways to teach growth mindset using music, doodling, writing, poetry, art, and more.
Some take just a few minutes. Others make great standalone lessons. And there's even a FREE growth mindset activity you can grab along the way!
Let's get started!
1. Develop Growth Mindset with Music
Music can be a powerful instructional tool. It can help make lessons more lively, meaningful, and inspirational. So, what better way to expose students to the core values of growth mindset than with a little music? Here are just a few songs that focus on persistence, courage, and perseverance...
➤"It's Not Over Yet" by for King and Country (an encouraging song about not giving up)
➤"Rise Up" by Andra Day (a motivational song about staying strong)
➤"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor (a classic song about fighting through adversity)
Besides just playing the songs in the classroom, you can make the messages in the growth mindset songs "stick" with these activities:
--- Pass out the lyrics of the songs. Then, have students select their favorite growth mindset line from the song. You might have students write the lyric on a post-it note. Then, they can discuss their favorite lines with the class or even stick them on their desks for daily inspiration.
--- Send students on a growth mindset song hunt. Challenge students to find songs that have a growth mindset theme. Or, have students find an artist that has demonstrated a growth mindset in his or her life.
--- Have the class pick a growth mindset theme song. Perhaps students could vote on songs that you've selected. Or students could bring in growth mindset song "contenders." Then, the class could pick a growth mindset song to be the class's theme song. You could play this song and discuss it's meaning at different times throughout the year.
2. Develop Growth Mindset with Doodles
➤"It's Not Over Yet" by for King and Country (an encouraging song about not giving up)
➤"Rise Up" by Andra Day (a motivational song about staying strong)
➤"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor (a classic song about fighting through adversity)
Besides just playing the songs in the classroom, you can make the messages in the growth mindset songs "stick" with these activities:
--- Pass out the lyrics of the songs. Then, have students select their favorite growth mindset line from the song. You might have students write the lyric on a post-it note. Then, they can discuss their favorite lines with the class or even stick them on their desks for daily inspiration.
--- Send students on a growth mindset song hunt. Challenge students to find songs that have a growth mindset theme. Or, have students find an artist that has demonstrated a growth mindset in his or her life.
--- Have the class pick a growth mindset theme song. Perhaps students could vote on songs that you've selected. Or students could bring in growth mindset song "contenders." Then, the class could pick a growth mindset song to be the class's theme song. You could play this song and discuss it's meaning at different times throughout the year.
2. Develop Growth Mindset with Doodles
If you're looking for ways to get students excited about developing a growth mindset, the trick may just be with doodles! When students doodle or create sketches of something, they activate different parts of their brains. Doodling helps students make connections to their learning, so what better way to drive home the concepts of growth mindset than with doodles? Here are a few ways to help students get their "doodle on."
➤ Doodle Desk Cards - These FREE doodle desk cards combine growth mindset quotes with growth mindset words and expressions. Students combine doodling with inspiration as they create desk cards that can sit right on their desks as a constant reminder of growth mindset.
➤ Doodle Growth Mindset Makeovers - When discussing the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset, challenge students to doodle what they look and feel like with a fixed mindset. Then, have them give those mindsets a makeover with another doodle.
➤ Doodle Article and Notes - I've also put together a super fun Doodle and Do resource that combines a doodle article and notes. Students doodle their way through learning about growth mindset before they complete 4 engaging activities (many from the ideas I'll share below). It makes learning about growth mindset so fun and meaningful!
3. Develop Growth Mindset with Reflections
➤ Doodle Desk Cards - These FREE doodle desk cards combine growth mindset quotes with growth mindset words and expressions. Students combine doodling with inspiration as they create desk cards that can sit right on their desks as a constant reminder of growth mindset.
➤ Doodle Article and Notes - I've also put together a super fun Doodle and Do resource that combines a doodle article and notes. Students doodle their way through learning about growth mindset before they complete 4 engaging activities (many from the ideas I'll share below). It makes learning about growth mindset so fun and meaningful!
3. Develop Growth Mindset with Reflections
After students learn about growth mindset, it's fun to give them a chance to reflect on times when they have demonstrated a growth mindset. I love to use the analogy of a lock and key when discussing growth mindset. A locked lock represents a fixed mindset or a challenge. The key represents a growth mindset. When students have a growth mindset, they can unlock any challenge. You might use this same analogy in your classroom and pair it with a reflection. This analogy works great as the basis for a class discussion, but I've also turned it into a simple reflection activity.
All you need is a open lock and key graphic. Have students write a challenge that they have faced inside the lock shape. Then, discuss how having a growth mindset can help students overcome the challenge. Task students to write about their growth mindset inside the key. I like to add string to the key and hang it around the lock shape. This reflection activity is great because students can connect growth mindset to their own lives!
4. Develop Growth Mindset with Peers
All you need is a open lock and key graphic. Have students write a challenge that they have faced inside the lock shape. Then, discuss how having a growth mindset can help students overcome the challenge. Task students to write about their growth mindset inside the key. I like to add string to the key and hang it around the lock shape. This reflection activity is great because students can connect growth mindset to their own lives!
4. Develop Growth Mindset with Peers
What's better than helping students develop a growth mindset AND building classroom community at the same time? That's why I love infusing growth mindset into collaborative activities! Here are a few ways to do just that...
➤ Have pairs of students or small groups write Growth Mindset Skits that they can perform for the class. Present the class with a fictional challenge. Then, have groups write one skit where the main character responds to the challenge with a fixed mindset. Have them write an additional skit where the character responds with a growth mindset. Encourage students to be over-dramatic when creating and performing the skit. This makes for fun discussions, funny skits...and tons of learning!
➤ Give groups of students Growth Mindset Discussion Cards. These do not need to be fancy. You'll just want a set of 5-7 cards with targeted questions for students to discuss about growth mindset.
5. Develop Growth Mindset with History
➤ Have pairs of students or small groups write Growth Mindset Skits that they can perform for the class. Present the class with a fictional challenge. Then, have groups write one skit where the main character responds to the challenge with a fixed mindset. Have them write an additional skit where the character responds with a growth mindset. Encourage students to be over-dramatic when creating and performing the skit. This makes for fun discussions, funny skits...and tons of learning!
➤ Give groups of students Growth Mindset Discussion Cards. These do not need to be fancy. You'll just want a set of 5-7 cards with targeted questions for students to discuss about growth mindset.
A great way to demonstrate the power of growth mindset is with historical figures. When students learn that great leaders and change-makers overcame challenges, they can see first-hand that intelligence and success is developed, not innate. Here are a few ways to develop growth mindset with history...
➤ Combine research, writing, and growth mindset with Growth Mindset Research Projects. Have students research famous people and find evidence of their growth mindset. Take it a step further and have students make fun 3-D projects!
➤ Set up a Growth Mindset Person of the Week. Each week you could discuss a famous person and his or her growth mindset. Some of my favorites are Malala Yousafzai, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Albert Einstein.
➤ Read biographies about famous people who have a growth mindset as a read aloud to students. Take time to discuss how the person demonstrated a growth mindset in his or her lifetime.
➤ Have students design coloring sheets with Growth Mindset Quotes. Then, you can create copies for the class. The entire class can work on each other's sheets at the same time or you can set them aside as an activity for fast finishers.
➤ Challenge students to draw silhouettes or their faces (or provide generic templates). Then, have students fill the silhouettes with words and images from magazines that represent growth mindset.
7. Develop Growth Mindset with Writing
➤ Combine research, writing, and growth mindset with Growth Mindset Research Projects. Have students research famous people and find evidence of their growth mindset. Take it a step further and have students make fun 3-D projects!
➤ Set up a Growth Mindset Person of the Week. Each week you could discuss a famous person and his or her growth mindset. Some of my favorites are Malala Yousafzai, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Albert Einstein.
➤ Read biographies about famous people who have a growth mindset as a read aloud to students. Take time to discuss how the person demonstrated a growth mindset in his or her lifetime.
6. Develop Growth Mindset with Art
Instantly engage students as they learn about growth mindset with a fun art activity or project!
➤ Art with Jenny K. has an amazing resource where students create a huge collaboration poster displaying famous people with a growth mindset.This art project is fun to do any time of the year, but it also makes an incredible Open House display!
➤ Challenge students to draw silhouettes or their faces (or provide generic templates). Then, have students fill the silhouettes with words and images from magazines that represent growth mindset.
7. Develop Growth Mindset with Writing
Providing students with lots of opportunities to write is an awesome way to help students develop a growth mindset. I'm particularly fond of using writing prompts to spark writing in the classroom. You might give students different prompts throughout the school year. They could even create a Growth Mindset Journal where they respond to the different prompts. Or, you could have them make fun Writing Prompt Pockets with growth mindset prompts.
No matter how you do it, getting students writing and reflecting on their own growth mindset is a win! Here are a few prompts to get you started...
--- Write about a time when you had a fixed mindset. What challenge were you facing? What thoughts were going through your head? How did the fixed mindset impact your success?
--- Imagine that you are visiting a classroom in a lower grade. When you arrive, you see a student struggling with his math work. He tells you that he's terrible at math. He even crumples up his paper. What can you do to help him? How can you teach him about growth mindset?
--- Give one of your thoughts a "mindset makeover." What is something you struggle with? What do you usually say to yourself about that task? Now, give those thoughts a makeover. What new thoughts could you think to help you have a growth mindset?
9. Develop Growth Mindset with Poetry
--- Write about a time when you had a fixed mindset. What challenge were you facing? What thoughts were going through your head? How did the fixed mindset impact your success?
--- Imagine that you are visiting a classroom in a lower grade. When you arrive, you see a student struggling with his math work. He tells you that he's terrible at math. He even crumples up his paper. What can you do to help him? How can you teach him about growth mindset?
--- Give one of your thoughts a "mindset makeover." What is something you struggle with? What do you usually say to yourself about that task? Now, give those thoughts a makeover. What new thoughts could you think to help you have a growth mindset?
8. Develop Growth Mindset with Adults
Another way to help students develop a growth mindset is by giving them opportunities to see how the adults in their lives have a growth mindset. To do just that, you could...
➤ Model growth mindset in the classroom. You're one of most influential people in your students' lives, so be sure to use growth mindset statements throughout your day. Be open about your struggles and model how you can respond with a growth mindset.
➤ Get parents involved. Set up a collaborative writing prompt with students and their parents. This is especially fun at Open House, but you can do it at any time throughout the year. Just download this FREEBIE and get students and parents writing about growth mindset.
9. Develop Growth Mindset with Poetry
Poetry is a quick and easy way to develop growth mindset. Poems like "Listen to the Mustn'ts" by Shel Silverstein and "The Man Who Thinks He Can" by Walter D. Wintle are great! Once you find poems that relate to growth mindset, you can use them to highlight growth mindset in lots of ways. You could...
➤ Pair a poem with a couple of targeted questions for morning work. Then, discuss the poem and students' responses.
➤ Give small groups a poem along with a few discussion questions. Students can read and analyze the poem together. Then, as an entire class, you could discuss its connection to growth mindset.
➤ Teach the critical skill of poetry analysis with a growth mindset poem. My favorite way to do this is with interactive flip books!
➤ Select a poem to read aloud to students. Reading poetry can even help students settle back into learning after lunch or a special. Check out my favorite poems to teach growth mindset here.
➤ Pair a poem with a couple of targeted questions for morning work. Then, discuss the poem and students' responses.
➤ Give small groups a poem along with a few discussion questions. Students can read and analyze the poem together. Then, as an entire class, you could discuss its connection to growth mindset.
➤ Teach the critical skill of poetry analysis with a growth mindset poem. My favorite way to do this is with interactive flip books!
➤ Select a poem to read aloud to students. Reading poetry can even help students settle back into learning after lunch or a special. Check out my favorite poems to teach growth mindset here.
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Well, there you have it, 9 ways to develop a growth mindset in your classroom all year long.
Keep the Growth Mindset Going!
The best part about teaching growth mindset is that you don't need to set aside an entire week or create elaborate lessons.
A quick writing prompt, a meaningful poem, a classroom discussion, or even a song can help students think differently about challenges.
The key is to keep the conversation going all year long!
And if you haven't already, be sure to grab my FREE Growth Mindset Doodle Desk Cards and Writing Prompts. They're a fun way to help students reflect on perseverance and positive thinking.
Happy teaching!
Mary Beth
Doodle
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