Gratitude Web Activity

Objective: Foster verbal sharing of gratitude, build a visual “Gratitude Web,” and deepen students’ awareness of positive aspects in their lives—all without writing or extra materials.

Time: 8 minutes
Group Size: 3–4 students per group
Materials:

• Attitude of Gratitude Slide Deck “Gratitude Web” slide with blank web graphic

Setup

1. Arrange students into small groups of 3–4 around the classroom or on the carpet.
2. Display the “Gratitude Web” slide on the board or screen.

Steps

1. Form Groups (1 minute)
   • Teacher: “Everyone find a group of 3–4 friends. Ready?”
2. Share Gratitudes (3 minutes)
   • Teacher prompts each group: “Discuss one thing you’re really grateful for today.”
   • Groups whisper or quietly agree on their gratitude item.
3. Build the Web (3 minutes)
   • Teacher calls on each group in turn: “Group 1, tell us your gratitude!”
   • Teacher clicks to add that response as a spoke on the Gratitude Web slide.
   • Repeat for all groups until the web is full of colorful spokes and ideas.
4. Discuss Patterns (1 minute)
   • Teacher: “Look at our web! What do you notice? Any surprises or things that many of us share?”
   • Invite 1–2 brief observations from students.

Teacher Tips & Adaptations

• Encourage quieter students by saying: “Who else has a different idea? Let’s hear from someone new.”
• Offer positive reinforcement (“Great idea!”) each time a spoke appears to keep energy high.
• For students with language or communication challenges, accept nonverbal cues (pointing, picture cards) to contribute.
• If time remains, ask: “How does it feel to see all these good things in one place?”

This entirely verbal, group-based activity requires no handouts or extra printouts, and seamlessly integrates into the Attitude of Gratitude Slide Deck for a one-file lesson.

Badtitude to Gratitude Game

Objective:
Students will practice transforming negative (“badtitude”) statements into positive (“gratitude”) reframes, building creative thinking and reinforcing a growth mindset.

Time: 8 minutes
Group Size: 3–4 students per group
Materials:

• Attitude of Gratitude Slide Deck “Badtitude Statements” slide

Setup (1 minute)

1. Arrange students into their small groups (same groups used in the Gratitude Web Activity).
2. Remind them: “You’ll hear a ‘badtitude’ statement. Your job is to find a positive way to say it!”

How to Play (6 minutes)

1. Show & Read: Teacher displays the first statement on the “Badtitude Statements” slide (e.g., “I hate cleaning my room.”).
2. Think & Whisper (30 seconds): In their groups, students quietly brainstorm a positive version (e.g., “I’m thankful I have my own space to keep neat!”).
3. Share & Reveal:
   • Teacher calls on Group 1 to share their reframe aloud.
   • Teacher clicks to reveal the shared reframe on-screen (typing or pasting it onto the slide).
4. Award Points:
   • 1 point for a clear positive reframe
   • +1 bonus point for extra creativity (unusual word choice, humor, or detail)
   • Class applauds the group—encouragement matters more than competition!
5. Repeat: Move to the next statement and rotate which group is called on first.

Statements to Reframe

1. “I hate cleaning my room.”
2. “I can’t do this math.”
3. “This is so boring.”

(Teacher can add more examples on the fly if time allows.)

Closure (1 minute)

• Tally up which group earned the most points and celebrate their positivity!
• Reinforce: “See how a small shift in words can make us feel better?”

Teacher Tips & Variations

• Encourage quick, first-idea responses to keep the game lively.
• If a group is stuck, offer a hint (“What’s one good thing about doing math?”).
• For mixed-ability groups, allow one student to lead the brainstorm while others add gestures or drawings.
• To extend: Challenge students to come up with two different gratitude reframes for each badtitude statement.