Oops I Learn Lesson Plan
Oops! I Learn!
A Pre-K Resilience Lesson
Time 30 Min
The Why
This lesson helps young children develop self-compassion and resilience by reframing mistakes as opportunities for growth, rather than something to be ashamed of. It builds a foundation for a positive learning mindset.
Objective
Students will understand that making mistakes is a normal part of learning and growing, and that it's okay to make them.
Materials
- Oops! I Learn! Slide Deck
- Oops! I Learn! Script
- Mistake Monsters Activity Sheet
- Construction paper & Cardstock
- Crayons, markers, safety scissors
- Glue sticks
Preparation (15 Minutes)
-
Review the Slide Deck and Script to familiarize yourself with the content.
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Print out enough Mistake Monster templates for each student (plus extras!).
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Gather crayons, markers, safety scissors, and glue sticks for the activity.
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Set up your projector or screen for the slide deck.
The 30-Minute Plan
05
Warm-Up: Share a Silly Mistake
Share a lighthearted, age-appropriate mistake (e.g., putting socks on your hands). Ask students if they've ever made a silly mistake. Reassure them that everyone makes mistakes.
05
Introducing Mistakes
Use the Slide Deck to discuss what mistakes are. Guide them to understand it's when things don't go as planned. Emphasize that mistakes help us learn.
05
Story Time: The Wobbly Tower
Read the story of Leo from the Script. Discuss Leo's feelings and what he learned when his tower crashed. Focus on the strategy he used to fix it.
10
Activity: My Learning Monster
Students create their "Learning Monster." Explain that this monster loves "oopsies" because they help us grow bigger and smarter!
05
Wrap-Up & Reflection
Students share their monsters and one thing their monster knows about mistakes. Reiterate that every "oops" is a chance to grow!
Oops I Learn Slides
🎨
👾
✨
Oops!
I Learn!
It's okay to make mistakes!
Teacher Notes: Welcome the children. Talk about how everyone makes mistakes!
1
What's a Mistake?
Doing something differently than we planned.
And that's okay!
Everyone makes them!
🤔
Teacher Notes: Ask "What is a mistake?" and guide them to understanding it's not bad.
2
Why Do We Make Them?
🌱
When we're learning something new!
💪
When we're trying our best!
❓
When we don't know... yet!
Teacher Notes: Connect mistakes to growth. Use the word "yet"!
3
Story Time!
The Wobbly Tower
🧱
Crash!
Listen closely to Leo's story.
What happens when he builds his tower?
What does he learn?
🏗️
Grow!
Teacher Notes: Read the story from the script about Leo and his tower.
4
✨
✨
✨
My Learning Monster!
👾
"I love 'oopsies'!"
Let's make a friendly monster that loves to learn from mistakes!
🖍️ ✂️ 🎨
Teacher Notes: Hand out templates. Encourage students to give their monster big ears and eyes!
5
We Learn From Oopsies!
🌱 Mistakes help us grow!
🧠 They make us smarter!
🔁 It's okay to try again!
🎈
Teacher Notes: Final high-five or cheer. Emphasize resilience!
6
Oops I Learn Script
Oops! I Learn! Script
Teacher & Counselor Facilitation Guide
Warm-Up: Share a Silly Mistake (5 Min)
Say
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important that everyone does. Even grown-ups like me! For example, this morning, I was a little sleepy and accidentally tried to put my socks on my hands! Oops! It was a funny mistake, but I definitely noticed it right away."
"Has anyone ever made a silly mistake? Maybe you put your shoes on the wrong feet, or you tried to eat cereal with a fork? It's okay to share! Everyone makes them, and sometimes they're even a little bit funny!"
Interaction Tip
Encourage a few students to share. Reassure them that mistakes are normal. Refer to Slide 1.
Introducing Mistakes (5 Min)
Say
"So, what is a mistake? A mistake is when something doesn't go quite as we planned, or we do something a little differently than we intended. And guess what? It's totally, completely, 100% okay to make mistakes! Look at our slide: Everyone makes them!"
"Why do you think we make mistakes? That's right! We make mistakes when we're learning something new, like when you first learned to walk, or when you're trying your best, or when you just don't know the answer yet! Mistakes are like little helpers that show us how to do things better next time."
Visual Reference
Guide students to ideas like learning and trying new things. Refer to Slides 2 & 3.
Story Time: The Wobbly Tower (5 Min)
Story Script
"Now, I want to tell you a story about a little builder named Leo. Leo loved to build with blocks. One sunny afternoon, Leo decided to build the tallest, most magnificent tower anyone had ever seen!"
"He started stacking... Red, then blue, then yellow. He was so proud! But then, he put a really big, heavy green block right on top of a tiny, skinny red block. Uh oh! What do you think happened?"
"CRASH!"
"The tower wobbled and then tumbled down! Leo felt a little sad and frustrated. But then, he looked closely. He saw that the big green block was too heavy for the little red block. He thought, 'Hmm, next time, I need to put the bigger, stronger blocks at the bottom!'"
"So, he started again, this time putting big, strong blocks on the bottom, and his tower grew taller and taller, strong and steady! He learned from his 'oops!'."
Discussion Question
"What did Leo learn from his wobbly tower mistake?"
Activity: My Learning Monster (10 Min)
Say