Empower Your Students with Critical Thinking and Growth Mindset in One Interactive Lesson!

Foster Growth Mindset with Evidence-Based Learning: This engaging, remote-ready google slides lesson is the perfect way to kickstart the academic year. It introduces students to the powerful C-E-R (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) framework, while reinforcing the concept that scientific evidence strongly upholds the idea of a growth mindset, where intelligence is viewed as malleable and influenced by one's environment.

Evidential Exploration: Students embark on a scientific journey by delving into distinct pieces of evidence. Each piece prompts them to discern whether it aligns more with the concept of a fixed mindset (where intelligence is perceived as innate and unchangeable) or a growth mindset. With an array of seven evidence options, students can select those that resonate most with their interests and aptitude.

Critical Analysis: Once students make their determinations, they are tasked with articulating their choice, providing a well-founded rationale for their decision. This process not only sharpens their critical thinking skills but also hones their ability to effectively communicate scientific insights.

Adaptable Learning for All: Whether your students are engaging in remote or in-person learning, this differentiated lesson caters to varying levels of interest and difficulty. It sets the stage for a year of empowered learning and growth mindset development.

Seize the Opportunity: Download this dynamic lesson now and set your students on a path of scientific exploration and growth mindset development. Equip them with the tools to approach challenges with confidence, knowing that intelligence is not fixed, but rather a dynamic attribute influenced by their environment and efforts.

Grade & Course Recommendation:

• Middle School: Grades 7–8 — suitable for advisory, psychology, or STEM-readiness units focused on scientific habits of mind.

• High School: Grades 9–10 Biology or General Science — excellent as an early-year activity reinforcing scientific inquiry, persistence, and analysis.

Cross-Curricular Connections:

• ELA Integration: Students evaluate written claims and construct responses, supporting argumentation skills.

• Psychology / Social Studies Integration: Connects to neuroscience, motivation, and human development.

• Health & Wellness Integration: Reinforces emotional regulation and self-efficacy concepts.
  

Daily slide + literacy - based exit ticket included with purchase

Join the Lesson Laboratory and Teach for Tomorrow!

NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

MS-LS1-8: Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories. (connection: introduces neural mechanisms that support learning and memory)

HS-LS1-2: Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms. (connection: applies when discussing how neurons and brain structures interact to support cognitive processes)

HS-LS1-3: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis. (connection: neural feedback in brain adaptation and recovery)

Science & Engineering Practices: Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information; Engaging in argument from evidence; Constructing explanations.

Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and effect; Systems and system models; Structure and function.

Common Core Standards

Middle & High School (Grades 8–12)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.8.1 / RST.9-10.1 / RST.11-12.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts. (connection: analyzing neuroscience research and media articles to evaluate mindset claims)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.8.8 / RST.9-10.8 / RST.11-12.8: Assess the validity of reasoning and relevance of evidence in scientific texts. (connection: evaluating claims about brain plasticity and intelligence)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.7 / RST.11-12.7: Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words with visual or multimedia sources (videos, abstracts, and articles).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.1 / WHST.11-12.1: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content. (connection: constructing evidence-based responses on growth mindset and neuroplasticity)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1 / SL.11-12.1: Participate effectively in collaborative discussions on scientific and ethical implications of research findings.