Objectives:• Students will reflect on their own character and identify ways they could improve it.• Students will understand the difference between Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset.• Students will familiarize themselves with what Growth Mindset vocabulary sounds like.

Materials:• Image: CharacterDare Image Set• Image: Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset• Supplies: Paper and writing utensil for each student• Video: Time-Lapse of Baby Learning How to Walk (1:21)

CharacterDare (5-7 minutes):• *Project Image: Previous CharacterDare.*

• Ask students to turn and talk to the person next to them or partner up and discuss the previous CharacterDare by answering the Truth or Dare prompt.

• Truth: “What do you think about our most recent Dare?” • Dare: “Reflect on your experience with our most recent Dare.”

• Using random cold calling or asking for volunteers, ask students to share their Truth or Dare reflections. Encourage when appropriate and take advantage of any teachable moments, especially when a student shares a struggle.

• Remind your students that it is not about being perfect or even completing each Dare; rather, it is about striving to improve our character by intentionally practicing.

• *Project Image: Current CharacterDare.*

• Introduce the current CharacterDare. Answer and clarify any questions about the Dare. Encourage students to modify the CharacterDare if it does not seem to specifically fit your school situation.

Discussion & Video (5 minutes):• Ask, “Who has a hobby, skill, sport or talent they think they are pretty good at?”

• Have a few volunteers share their skills. • Ask, “How long have you been working on that skill, sport, or hobby?”

• Ask, “When we first begin a new skill, like juggling, what do those first attempts look like?”

• Say, “Our first attempt at most new things often look like this video I am going to show you.”

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Grade 6, Lesson 11

Page 1

Growth Mindset Part One

• *Play video: Time-Lapse of Baby Learning How to Walk (1:21)*

Discussion (5 minutes):• Ask students:

• What did the first attempts at walking look like for the baby?• What happened when the baby fell?• Do you think the baby ever got hurt while trying to walk?• How many of you have tried something and failed at it the first time? • How does that feel? • Do you think some babies learn to walk sooner than others? Does that make someone

more special than someone else? • Answer: Of course not!

• Can you think of other skills some people learn quicker than others? • At the end of the day, do all of us learn how walk? • What did it require from all of us?

• Answer: A lot of falls and a lot practice.

• Say, “Today we are going to learn about ‘growth mindset,’ and our goal is going to be to learn the difference between what we call a ‘growth mindset’ and a ‘fixed mindset.’”

Discussion (11 minutes):• *Project Image: Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset*

• Fixed mindset - My abilities and intelligence are set; I cannot get smarter or better at skills.• Growth mindset - With effort, hard work, and learning I can become smarter and better

at skills.

• Say, “What would a fixed mindset look like for the baby that was learning how to walk?”• Answer: I am obviously not going to learn how to walk because I keep falling. It is

impossible for me to learn how to walk, it’s just how I am built.

• Ask the students, “Does this sound silly and ridiculous?”

• Say, “It is just as silly to think that we can’t improve skills and intelligence as 6th graders as it does for a baby to say those things.”

• Say, “Now looking at the definition of growth mindset, what would a growth mindset sound like for the baby trying to walk?”

• Examples might be something like, “If I keep trying I can learn how to walk” or “By getting back up and trying again I can get better at walking.”

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Grade 6, Lesson 11

Page 2

Growth Mindset Part One

Exit Intentionally (2 minutes):• Say, “What is one thing that makes you feel like that baby learning how to walk right now?”

• Give them suggestions like learning a tough math concept, writing an essay in English, etc..

• Say, “What does a growth mindset sound like for you in this situation?”

• In their binder or somewhere they can see it as a reminder, have them write down what the growth mindset looks like.

© CharacterStrong, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Do Not Distribute.

Grade 6, Lesson 11

Page 3

Growth Mindset Part One

Kindness

Share Your SkillsPick one of your talents and find a way to humbly mentor a younger student who is looking to develop

that skill.Do you know someone in a grade lower than you? Have you ever stopped by your old elementary school and asked if you could help? Are you really good at basketball and know the kid up the

street would love to shoot a few hoops with you today?

Truth or DareWhat do you

think about the current Dare?

Kindness

Reflect on your experience with

the previous Dare.

Kindness

Just BecauseThe next time you are out with your family or one of your friends, offer to do something for them without being asked. You could buy their ice cream, open the door for them, or allow them to

do something first. If they ask you why, say, “just because.”

FIXED MINDSET VS. GROWTH MINDSET

Fixed mindset - My abilities and intelligence are set; I cannot get smarter or better at skills.

Growth mindset - With effort and hard work I can become smarter and better at skills.