KS2 PSHE: How to develop a positive mindset

Video summary

Meesha and Lucas are in a maths lesson.

Meesha is happy to take on the challenges set by the teacher, but Lucas is more reluctant.

Meesha has a growth mindset. She believes intelligence, talent and ability are open to change.

So she believes she can get better at maths. This means she tries, puts in effort and works hard to master the learning.

Lucas has a fixed mindset. He doesn't believe he can get better at maths.

He thinks you're either good at maths or your not. And he is definitely not good at maths.

Lucas and Meesha make different decisions about their learning because of their different mindsets.

As time goes on, Meesha and Lucas talk. Meesha explains that you can change your mindset - and she encourages Lucas to do this. Gradually, Lucas starts to think in a different way.

He starts to think that he can do maths, that he can get better. As he changes his mindset, so Lucas changes his behaviour. He starts to have a go, to keep trying and to persist.

We see him improve his maths skills as a result. Meesha and Lucas demonstrate the differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.

They show how each one influences your thoughts, actions and behaviours.

And they also show that anyone can develop a growth mindset, no matter who they are.

This is from the series: Growth Mindset.

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Teacher Notes

This could be used as an introduction to growth mindsets and a fantastic tool for helping learners reflect on how they think about learning and their own potential to develop.

This clip is suitable for teaching PSHE/Modern Studies at KS2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 1st and 2nd Level in Scotland.

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An animated clip exploring how to think positively about making mistakes.

What is a good mistake?

An animated clip exploring the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.

How your mindset can affect your approach to challenges

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