Ant In Circle SEL Lesson-About Growth Mindset and Grit

In this 7 slide Google Slideshow, you have a lesson that is low prep and engaging. Students will get hooked first by a short video about an ant getting trapped in a pen circle. There are many discussion prompts. Then students will connect the concepts from the video to real life SEL situations. There is an activity where students draw a circle on a piece of paper and write in the middle "I can't" and then on the outside of the circle they will write ideas on how to escape the "invisible" barrier. On slide 6, they will do an index card experiment-read the slide notes. Then students will do an exit activity about what next steps they would be willing to do to break out of their circles to do something new. It is not on the actual slide in case you do not have time to do this activity. This lesson is great for third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth. (Maybe even in high school as well.)

For more SEL resources, activities, and lessons, please check out my SEL store at:

https://teachsimple.com/contributor/jennifer-moyer-taylor

You can also check out these related SEL resources for the age group:

https://teachsimple.com/product/colorful-growth-mindset-posters (Growth Mindset Posters)

https://teachsimple.com/product/communicating-tough-feelings-an-sel-lesson (Communicating tough feelings)

https://teachsimple.com/product/sel-stress-management-game-sel-coloring-pages ( SEL stress management game similar to Apples to Apples.-there are 36 strategy cards and 18 situation cards. Everyone gets 5 strategy cards at all times and the players take turns being the "judge" and that "judge" decides which stress management strategy is best for that situation. There are also 2 mindfulness coloring pages that can relax students as they color them.)

https://teachsimple.com/product/icebreaker-back-to-school-battle-brackets (Icebreaker Battle Brackets-Have students get to know each other in a fun and risk free way. This is great for back to school or back from a break when you have new students in your class rotation.)

https://teachsimple.com/product/escape-the-mall-teen-topics-sel-boom-cards (BOOM DECK)- Escape the Mall! There are many teen topics to discuss and process in this Boom Deck for middle schoolers. Kids can work independently, with partners, in groups or as a whole class. You decide what is best for your classroom and students.