Sparks & Mindset Activity

v. 4/25/12

The Brain

Agenda

• Talk about your Sparks

• Learn how your brain thinks thoughts

• Tackle challenge with a “Growth Mindset”

• Write Advice Letter to other Littles

Sparks Interviews

People obtain energy from their spark and many haven’t discovered theirs yet.

Sparks Collage

There are so many different kinds of sparks.

Exploring Sparks with your match

Find

Grow

Champion

The Brain: It’s like a muscle!

When you exercise your brain, you get smarter

and increase your success.

We need your help!

Video: How Brain Thinks

Let’s play ball like the brain

thinks thoughts!

New Connections

Video: Star Wars© Clip

The Growth Mindset

Yoda had a Growth Mindset: A belief that people can learn and become better at things with…

effort,

trying new strategies,

seeking help.

The Growth Mindset

• Belief: Brain has amazing ability to grow and develop like a muscle.

• Belief: You know that people can learn and change.

• You know that people aren’t just “dumb” at math or music; everybody can improve.

Scientists measured brain of cab drivers

The area that remembers places was bigger!

The longer cabbies were on the job, the bigger this area grew.

Phineas Gage

With practice, you can develop:•Intelligence •Physical ability•Personality

Mindset: Many Aspects

• Rapid growth of brain cell connections!

(ages 10-25)

• Brain cells pass thoughts at faster speeds.

Brain Opportunity for Young People!

Hula Hoop Activity

Effort…

Strategies

Seeking Help!

Growth Mindset & Fixed Mindset

Fixed Mindset:Belief abilities and personality cannot change much.

Growth Mindset:Belief abilities and personality can change and grow.

Alan“I’m not the best at English Class.

It’s mostly because English isn’t my first language. Everybody else seems to know much more than me.

They can learn new things so much faster.”

- Alan, 10th grade student in San Jose, CA

“In the past I’ve always had trouble with Math and English. Why shouldn’t I say that I’m just not good at it and quit trying?”

“Other people in my family didn’t have success, and we have the same genes. So why should I have success?”

How would you respond to these

“Fixed Mindsets”?

Everybody has challenges in school.

What are some setbacks or problems that you have experienced in your

classes in school?

Challenges

• Life is a set of challenges.

• What you say is what you think…

• If you say “I can’t”, your brain shuts down.

• Try growth mindset language…

What you say matters…

MindsetAdvice Letters

Bigs and Littles

What will you do to help each other remember to have a Growth Mindset?

Recommended

• Strengthening the Brain Brief• Brain Toolkit• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Thanks for your feedback on this activity!

www.bbbs.stepitup2thrive.org