Intern Name: Abbie Miller

Lesson Title (Subject/Topic): flexible thinking growth mindset skill

Grade: 3rd
Length of Lesson: 30 minutes
Date Taught: January 21st
LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE
In this lesson… students will learn that they are able to think of things in a new
way and go with the flow when things change.
Overview

Standards of Learning none

What is flexible thinking?
Essential Questions
Students will be able to… define flexible thinking and give examples of how
they can use it in their life.
Objectives

I can describe the importance of flexible thinking and how I can use it in my
Learning Target everyday routine.
Necessary Prior Students will need to know the challenges they have encountered and describe
how they overcame them.
Knowledge
interactive powerpoint
Materials
Students will be asked to describe flexible thinking and share different choices
they have every day.
Introduction/Hook Ex: things to eat for breakfast, colors of shirts, toppings on pizza

1. Interactive powerpoint
Instructional 2. Share movie clip from Inside Out
3. Share Oreo commercial
Activities &
Strategies

Key Vocabulary or Challenge, railroad brain, flexible thinking

Concepts
Assessments Students will be verbally asked questions to assess their knowledge.
The lesson will be closed by reviewing how the characters in the video clips
used flexible thinking and asking review questions.
Closure Activity

none
Accommodations
Adapted from the Teacher Cadet Curriculum, Property of CERRA—South Carolina © 2004, and/or the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Curriculum
John M. Merritt, English Teacher at Kellam High School (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)
 teacherspayteachers.com
Resources

Reflection on a Lesson Plan Taught

Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow
Intern Name: Abbie Miller
Lesson Title (Subject/Topic): flexible thinking growth mindset
Date of Lesson Taught: January 21st
Cooperating Teacher & School: Mrs. Nard- John B Dey
Grade: 3rd
Time of Day: 10am

1. What steps did you go through to create this lesson? With whom did you talk, discuss, or edit your lesson?
When I first began thinking about my lesson I spoke to my internship teacher about what topic she wanted me
to teach. In her class last year I taught a different growth mindset and we both loved the outcome. I decided I
would teach a different mindset and then started looking online. I used teacherspayteachers.com to find a great
lesson and then started planning it my way.

2. How did the SOLs and Objectives help focus your instruction?
There are no SOLs for growth mindset skills. I centered the focus around the objective and made sure
everything led to it. I based the lesson on ensuring that students would be able to define flexible thinking and
give examples of how they can use it in their life.

3. What parts of the instructional plan worked as you anticipated?

The students enjoyed the interactive powerpoint with a story about how a boy changed his way of thinking.
They kept referencing the boy throughout the powerpoint and came up with solutions for him. I also really liked
how you could click on different things in the powerpoint and something would pop up.

4. What, if any, adjustments needed to be made once you began?

One adjustment I would make is to give them a worksheet at the end. I would have liked to give them a
worksheet that allows them to get creative and draw a picture. I think the students would have enjoyed doing a
hands on activity and getting to create something.

5. How well did you anticipate the materials needed?

The materials I needed were all available for me and worked correctly. The powerpoint pulled up through
the smart board and Mrs. Nard clicked through the sides.

6. How effective was the assessment you chose to use? (If no assessment was used, what will the future
assessment be and how will you gauge its effectiveness?)
I think that the questions I asked the students showed me that the lesson was effective and that they
were listening to the lesson the whole time. Each student wanted to share what they learned.
Adapted from the Teacher Cadet Curriculum, Property of CERRA—South Carolina © 2004, and/or the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Curriculum
John M. Merritt, English Teacher at Kellam High School (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)
7. To what degree do you feel that this lesson was a success? What evidence do you have for the success of
the lesson? (Hint: Student learning is the key to a lesson’s success!)
When I assessed the students at the end of the lesson they could explain flexible thinking and give me
examples. They were active listeners and were excited to come up with different solutions to different problems.

8. How did the time spent preparing for your lesson contribute to its success?
I spent most of my time trying to find a lesson that was the best fit for these students. I knew they enjoyed
interaction and wanted a fun lesson. The powerpoint was already made so I spent most of the time researching
and finding videos to show.

9. If you could do this lesson again with the same students, would you do anything differently? If so, what?
I would have wanted a little extra time because we had to rush at the end because they were switching classes.
Besides the amount of the time, the lesson went perfectly and I would recommend this powerpoint to other
teachers.

10. Any last comments/reflections about your lesson?

My lesson went very well and the students were active and enjoyed the lesson. The
topic was important because they can use it in their everyday life and it helps them
with their relationships with their peers.
Lesson Plan Assignment: Grade Sheet
Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow I

Intern Name: ______________________________

Refer to the comments written on your lesson plan for detailed feedback.
Needs a few
Ready to Your
additions or Incomplete
Teach! Score
tweaks
Overview, SOLs, essential questions, objectives (10)
Introduction/hook & closure (10)
Instructional activities (20)
Accommodations (10)
Assessment (5)
Vocab, materials, resources (5)
Supplemental materials, if applicable (5)

Total (65)
Adapted from the Teacher Cadet Curriculum, Property of CERRA—South Carolina © 2004, and/or the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Curriculum
John M. Merritt, English Teacher at Kellam High School (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)
Taught Lesson Plan Grade Sheet
Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow II

Intern Name: ______________________________Lesson #________

● Written (typed) Lesson Plan: _____/50

[See comments on LP]

● Supplemental materials: _____/10

Comments:

● Self-Evaluation: _____/15
Comments:

Total: _____/75

Adapted from the Teacher Cadet Curriculum, Property of CERRA—South Carolina © 2004, and/or the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Curriculum
John M. Merritt, English Teacher at Kellam High School (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)