Welcome everyone! Introduce today’s mini-lesson: unlocking a flexible mindset during group work. Explain that we’ll learn how to spot rigid thinking and turn it into flexible, team-friendly responses.

Define rigid thinking with an everyday example: insisting there’s only one right way to build a project or solve a problem. Emphasize how that can stall teamwork.

Contrast rigid vs. flexible thinking. Use visuals: a brick wall (rigid) vs. a bending tree (flexible). Ask students: which one helps a team grow?

Distribute the [Rigid Thought Scenarios Worksheet](#rigid-thought-scenarios-worksheet). Model underlining a rigid thought in one scenario. Then let students work independently.

Explain how to pair up and use the prompt cards. Model one or two quick questions: “What else might they be thinking?” or “How could you help them feel included?”

Show the [Flexible Response Starters Chart](#flexible-response-starters-chart). Ask students to pick a rigid thought they underlined and rewrite it using a starter like “Maybe we could…”

Invite a few volunteers to share their before-and-after reframed thoughts. Highlight strong examples. Encourage students to use these steps in every group project.