Growth Mindset: A Secret About the Brain
From Big Ideas by ClassDojo · 2016
3 minK1st2nd3rd4th5thSocial-Emotional Learning
Summary
Mojo is ready to quit school forever — he has decided he is just bad at math and bad at drawing. Katie lets him in on a secret she learned: the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it. The opener of ClassDojo's five-part growth-mindset series, made with Stanford's PERTS lab.
Viewer safety
All ages
Common Sense Media — not yet ratedIMDb Parents Guide — not yet rated
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Mojo thinks being bad at something means he will always be bad at it. Katie's secret is that the brain grows.
- What made Mojo want to quit school?
- What did Katie say happens to your brain when you try something hard?
- How is a brain like a muscle?
- What is something you are working on that feels hard right now?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: brain, muscle, practice, challenge, stronger.
Try it: Draw two pictures of Mojo's brain: one before he practices and one after. Then finish this sentence for yourself: "My brain gets stronger when I…"