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General summary of unit:
This unit focuses on the development of the brain and how to cultivate a growth mindset. Students will learn about the lobes of the brain, neurons, and how neural connections are made create strong and healthy problem-solving practices. Regardless of what career having grit and a growth mindset is vital. The students will learn and apply the Power of Yet philosophy to their own lives and academics as they gain a deeper understanding of dealing with ambiguity in real-world problems they will encounter throughout Middle School.
Skills students need or will develop:
New ways of thinking and problem solving
Develop skills associated with communicating through infographics.
Develop technology skills such as choice of digital tools for a purpose, planning and organizing ideas for presentations, and styling for audience appeal.
Goals For A Final Project:
Students will create an infographics that brings together all the content learned within this unit to present to an authentic audience. Focus should be on a) how the brain growth and develops b) growth and fixed mindset and/or c) The Power of Yet. Students should gallery walk through projects to compare and contrast the thoughts and ideas of others.
Vocabulary Associated with this Unit
Vocabulary Associated with this Unit
Growth Mindset Vocabulary List – Grade 6
This vocabulary list will help students understand key concepts of a Growth Mindset, fostering resilience, effort, and a love for learning.
Growth Mindset – The belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, practice, and learning.
Fixed Mindset – The belief that intelligence and abilities are set in stone and cannot be changed.
Perseverance – Continuing to try even when something is difficult or challenging.
Resilience – The ability to recover from setbacks, failures, or challenges.
Effort – Hard work put into learning or achieving a goal.
Challenge – A difficult task or situation that requires effort and problem-solving.
Mistake – An error or something done incorrectly that provides an opportunity to learn.
Feedback – Helpful information or suggestions given to improve learning and performance.
Neuroplasticity – The brain’s ability to grow and change when we learn new things.
Grit – A combination of passion and perseverance to achieve long-term goals.
Positive Attitude – A mindset that focuses on seeing the good in situations and believing in possibilities.
Goal Setting – The process of identifying something you want to achieve and planning how to accomplish it.
Self-Reflection – Thinking about and analyzing your own thoughts, actions, and progress.
Determination – The commitment to keep going despite difficulties or obstacles.
Mindfulness – Being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings in the present moment.
Encouragement – Supporting and motivating yourself or others to keep trying.
Persistence – Continuing to work towards a goal despite obstacles or challenges.
Learning from Failure – Understanding that making mistakes is a natural part of learning and improvement.
Adaptability – The ability to adjust to new situations or challenges.
Self-Talk – The thoughts and words you say to yourself that can impact your mindset and confidence.
The Fantastic Brain
The Fantastic Brain
4 Lobes of the brain and their jobs.
Brain sketch notes
Nucleus and Cell Body
Axon: Carries impulses away form the cell body.
Dendrites: Conducts (sends) impulses toward other cells.
Synapses: transmission of electric nerve impulses between two nerve cells (neurons) or between a neuron and a gland or muscle cell
This Week's Agenda
This Week's Agenda
Discuss Power of Yet
Introduce Infographics and 3 Task (In class)
Complete the Student Notes / Reflection / Questions Assignment (This must include pictures of thumbnail sketches. Complete during and/or after class)
Introduce and complete Infographic Pretest Thursday and Friday.
Growth Mindset Instructional Slides: These slides will be used throughout this unit to support your learning of content and understanding of material.
Instructional Materials
Instructional Materials
Day 1
Day 1
Discussion Questions
Growth Mindset Videos (We Carry Kevan & Backward Bicycle)
Reflection Discussion Posts
Day 2 & 3: (2 day rotations)
Day 2 & 3: (2 day rotations)
Read: Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by: JoAnn Deak PhD.
Backward Brain Bicylce Video and Group discussion/reflection
2 Growth Mindset Challenges
Learn about the parts of your brain and how your brain grows?
Day 4
Day 4
Join & Work through Growth Mindset Khan Academy Course
Khan Academy Course Join using the code provided to you in Schoology.
Growth Mindset Activities (Puzzles)
What is Neuroplasticity?
Neurons
Neurons
Teacher Led Station: You'll learn about neurons, their role in brain development and neuroplasticity.
(Notebook Needed)
Puzzle Challenges
Puzzle Challenges
Complete any 2 of the challenges of your liking. As you work, think about some of the strategies you are using?
Khan Academy
Khan Academy
Please wear headphones as you navigate and complete the Growth Mindset Course.
Day 5:
Day 5:
Introduction and exploration of infographics
Explore the interactive Brain
Complete: Khan Academy Course
Day 6
Day 6
Infographic Videos ~ Design Steps ~ Infographic Required
Infographic Videos ~ Design Steps ~ Infographic Required
7 Steps for Creating an Infographic (video)
Infographic Requirements: This link will take you to the required elements of your infographic design. Please be sure to access this as you are working and use it as a checklist to be sure you have included all of the parts
7 Steps for Creating an infographic
Video discusses 7 important considerations in the development of a functional infographic.
Infographics Task 1
Infographics Task 1
Today's class will be broken into 2 sessions.
Session 1: (15 mins.) you will work on your Growth Mindset Khan Academy assignment.
Session2: (25 mins) you will engage in whole group and small group learning about infographics.
Infographics & Their Purpose
Infographics & Their Purpose
An infographic is a collection of imagery, charts, and minimal text that gives an easy-to-understand overview of a topic. Infographics are a great way to show rather than tell information. When you have an opportunity to show information in a visual format, you should always do it.
Often data is represented within infographics. However, if people wanted to show you data on spreadsheets, there would little reason for the infograhic. So why does the infographic have such value? The answer, people remember much more, as much as 55% more when information is represented visually.
Task 1
Task 1
Look through the infographics to the left. Each one has a superhero theme yet, the purpose of the infographic and the information it is presenting is very different.
Once you have some basic understanding of the information being shared, go to your Student Notes/Reflections/& Questions Assignment for this week and respond to the questions.
Infographic Task 2 Part A: Infographic Evaluation
Infographic Task 2 Part A: Infographic Evaluation
After you have completed Task 1, you and a partner should choose 2 infographics to evaluate. You'll be looking for the following information. Respond to these questions on your Student Notes Assignment in Schoology.
What is the purpose of the infographic? What information is the creator trying to share with the viewer?
What elements of the infographic are important for understanding the information?
How was this information organized?
Infographic Task 3: Thumbnail Sketches
Infographic Task 3: Thumbnail Sketches
Nonfiction Text STructures Anchor Chart
Nonfiction Text STructures Anchor Chart
Use this tool to help you think about how you want to present your information.
Image: Pinterest
Infographic creation begins with some thumbnail sketches. This allows you to begin thinking about layout, content, and color scheme to get the most effectiveness out of your infographic.
Infographic creation begins with some thumbnail sketches. This allows you to begin thinking about layout, content, and color scheme to get the most effectiveness out of your infographic.
Create 2-3 sketches of possible versions of your infographic. Think about the organizational hierarchy (organize information so that the most important is first/largest, next level of importance is smaller, etc. Cut out any informaiton that detracts (takes away) from the overall message or value of the information you are trying to share.
Paste pictures of your infographic sketches on your Student Notes/Reflection/Questions assignment in the designated spot.
Infographic Tool Exploration
Infographic Tool Exploration
Explore infographic tools and choose appropriate tool for you.
Pre Assessment Task
Pre Assessment Task
This week you will be creating an infographic on the topic of Growth Mindset. Your teacher will be giving you specific instructions as you begin this preassessment. Please remember that we just want to preassess you on the standards listed below to see what your current abilities are in each area.
ISTE Standards
ISTE Standards
Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
Supports for Students During Work Time
Supports for Students During Work Time
Please make use of ANY notes, links, presentation materials, etc., that you have at your fingertips. Use the Google Site, as this is the place where ALL materials have been housed for you. Also, please know that you can use Google or any other browser to look up information on 'how tos' because this is what learning and having student agency is all about.
Interactive Brain: This site will help you understand the parts of the brain, their purpose, as well as location.
Brain Development and Function: Teacher Video
Neurons: Slide Show (Neuron document for students)
Brain Teasers: Can you solve any of these brain teasers accurately? We'll be looking at these in class.
Attention and Working Memory Muscles
Infographic Requirements: This link will take you to the required elements of your infographic design. Please be sure to access this as you are working and use it as a checklist to be sure you have included all of the parts.
Enrichement Opportunties for Go Getters!
Enrichement Opportunties for Go Getters!
Create a digital poster, presentation with a screencast, or another artifact of choice to help people understand the value of using failure productively.
Design a What Motivates Me poster for your room!
Include some of your favorite items using a variety of mediums (drawings/sketches, magazine or printed images, photos you've taken, etc.) The sky is the limit.
Share your work on this LINK for others to see!
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