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Building My Gratitude Jar

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Lesson Plan

Building My Gratitude Jar

Students will be able to identify and express gratitude for positive experiences, people, and things in their lives, fostering optimism and resilience.

Cultivating gratitude helps students appreciate what they have, improving their overall well-being and ability to cope with challenges. It shifts focus from what's lacking to what's abundant.

Audience

4th-5th Grade Students

Time

45-60 minutes

Approach

Reflection, journaling, and creative expression.

Materials

Teacher’s copy of Script: Building My Gratitude Jar, Projector or Smartboard, Slide Deck: Building My Gratitude Jar, Empty jars (one per student, or one per small group), Slips of paper or small sticky notes, Pens/pencils, Art supplies (optional: markers, stickers, glitter, ribbons for jar decoration), Gratitude Jar Activity Guide, and Gratitude Journal Entry

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is Gratitude?

10 minutes

Step 2

Brainstorming Gratitude

10 minutes

  • Guide students through a brainstorming session to identify things, people, and experiences they are grateful for.
  • Encourage diverse ideas, from big events to small everyday moments.
  • Provide sentence starters if needed (e.g., "I am grateful for...").

Step 3

Building Our Gratitude Jars

15 minutes

  • Distribute jars and the Gratitude Jar Activity Guide.
  • Instruct students to write down one thing they are grateful for on each slip of paper.
  • Encourage them to write several slips (e.g., 3-5).
  • If time and materials allow, let students decorate their jars.
  • Have students place their gratitude slips into their jars.

Step 4

Sharing and Reflection

10 minutes

  • Invite students to share one item from their jar (optional).
  • Discuss how it feels to focus on gratitude.
  • Explain how they can continue to add to their jars at home.

Step 5

Journaling on Gratitude

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Gratitude Journal Entry.
  • Instruct students to complete the journal entry independently as a cool-down or homework assignment.
  • Emphasize personal reflection and the importance of regularly practicing gratitude.
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Slide Deck

Building My Gratitude Jar

A Place for All Things Good!

Welcome students and introduce the concept of the lesson. Explain that today they'll learn about gratitude and create something special.

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is being thankful for the good things in your life.
It's about noticing and appreciating the positive!

Ask students what they think gratitude means. Guide them to understand it's about being thankful and appreciating things.

Why is Gratitude Important?

  • It helps you feel happier.
  • It makes you more positive.
  • It reminds you of all the good things around you.
  • It can make challenging days a little easier!

Discuss why it's good to practice gratitude. Focus on feeling happier, being more positive, and seeing the good even on tough days.

Your Gratitude Jar

Imagine a special jar where you can collect all your happy thoughts and thankful moments.

That's a Gratitude Jar! It helps us remember the good stuff.

Introduce the idea of the gratitude jar. Explain it's a way to collect and remember all the things they're thankful for.

How Do We Build It?

  1. Think about things you are grateful for.
  2. Write each one on a slip of paper.
  3. Put your slips into your special jar.
  4. You can decorate your jar if you like!

Explain the process for the activity. Emphasize that they will write down things they are grateful for.

What Are You Grateful For?

Think about:

  • People (family, friends, teachers)
  • Experiences (a fun day, a good game)
  • Things (a favorite toy, a cozy blanket)
  • Nature (sunshine, trees, pets)

Prompt students to start thinking about things they are grateful for. Give them a moment to reflect before starting to write.

Keep the Gratitude Going!

Your Gratitude Jar is a reminder of all the blessings in your life.

Keep adding to it and look back at your slips whenever you need a boost of happiness!

Encourage students to continue adding to their jars at home and to revisit them when they need a reminder of positive things.

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