Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Identify that making mistakes is a normal part of learning.
Express feelings about making mistakes through art.
Practice fine motor skills by crumpling and gluing.
Materials
Procedure (30 minutes)
(5 mins) Introduction: Begin by asking the children if they have ever felt sad or angry when they make a mistake, like spilling a drink or coloring outside the lines. Validate their feelings.
(10 mins) Watch the read-aloud video of 'Petunia the Perfectionist'.
(5 mins) Group Discussion: Talk about how Petunia felt when she was afraid to make mistakes and how she felt at the end. Emphasize that mistakes help our brains grow.
(10 mins) 'Crumpled Masterpiece' Activity: Give each child paper and crayons to draw. Then, instruct them to crumple the paper into a ball—an 'oops!'. Next, have them carefully open it, smooth it out, and glue it onto a new sheet of paper, turning the crinkly lines into a new, unique piece of art.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Understand that brains grow when we learn from mistakes.
Identify a time they made a mistake and what they learned from it.
Create a visual representation of personal growth from mistakes.
Materials
Procedure (30 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduction: Ask students what helps a plant grow (sun, water, soil). Introduce the idea that our brains grow too, and mistakes are like sunshine for our brains.
(10 mins) Watch the read-aloud video of 'Petunia the Perfectionist'.
(15 mins) 'Mistake Flower' Craft: Students create a flower. On each petal, they (or the teacher helps them write) a 'mistake' they've made. In the flower's center, they write what they learned. They then attach the flower to a craft stick 'stem' and 'plant' it in a paper cup.
(20 mins) Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would ask the author about the characters or what it's like to be a writer.
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Define 'perfectionism' in simple terms.
Practice reframing a mistake as a positive learning opportunity.
Write a short sentence about a personal experience with making a mistake.
Materials
Procedure (25 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduction: Discuss the word 'perfect.' Ask students if it is possible or fun to be perfect all the time. Introduce the idea of being a 'perfectionist' like Petunia.
(10 mins) Watch the read-aloud video of 'Petunia the Perfectionist'.
(10 mins) 'Oops to Aha!' Chart: As a class on a whiteboard, brainstorm common mistakes ('Oops'). In a second column, brainstorm what can be learned from each one ('Aha!'). For example, 'Oops: Spelled a word wrong' leads to 'Aha: Learned the correct spelling'.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author.
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Define resilience and self-compassion in student-friendly terms.
Identify strategies for being kind to oneself after making a mistake.
Create a short comic strip that illustrates a character overcoming a mistake with resilience.
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduction: Define 'resilience' as bouncing back from challenges and 'self-compassion' as being as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend.
(10 mins) Watch the read-aloud video of 'Petunia the Perfectionist'.
(10 mins) Discussion: How did Petunia show resilience? What are some kind things she could say to herself when she makes a mistake?
(15 mins) 'Resilience Comic' Activity: Students use templates to create a comic. Panel 1: A character makes a mistake. Panel 2: The character feels upset. Panel 3: The character practices self-compassion. Panel 4: The character learns and tries again.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author.
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Physically express feelings associated with making mistakes and learning.
Transform a random mark or 'mistake' into a creative piece of art.
Develop a positive association with unexpected outcomes.
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Movement Warm-up: Ask children to show with their bodies what 'worried' or 'frustrated' looks like (small, tense). Then, have them show what 'creative' and 'free' looks like (big, flowing movements).
(10 mins) Watch the read-aloud video of 'Petunia the Perfectionist'.
(15 mins) 'Beautiful Oops' Mural: On a large sheet of butcher paper, have children make an 'oops' – a drip of paint, a scribble, a splotch. As a group, work together to turn the 'oopses' into a collaborative mural. A scribble can become hair, a splotch becomes a cloud, etc.
(10 mins) Gallery Walk & Celebration: Admire the finished mural. Point out how each 'mistake' contributed to a unique and beautiful final piece that could never be recreated perfectly.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author.