Fixed vs Growth Mindset word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Fixed vs Growth Mindset word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this fixed vs growth mindset puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our social-emotional learning unit. The kids knew about growth mindset but kept mixing up the two terms in conversation, so I wanted to give them extra practice telling them apart. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like fixed, growth, mindset, give up, try again, challenge, avoid, struggle, learn, smart, effort, improve, yet, mistake, and brain. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the difference finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether "giving up" and "trying again" are both okay sometimes. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple brain and plant growing drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one fixed mindset thought and flip it to a growth mindset thought on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.