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Creative Gratitude Cards

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Janet Fedrick

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Creative Gratitude Cards Lesson Plan

Students will design personalized gratitude cards to express appreciation for peers or family, enhancing empathy and communication through art and writing.

Expressing gratitude builds empathy, fosters positive relationships, and encourages self-reflection—key social-emotional skills for young learners.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Hands-on art and reflective writing activity.

Materials

Colored Paper, Markers, Scissors, Gratitude Card Slide Deck, and Gratitude Card Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print one copy of the Gratitude Card Worksheet per student
  • Load the Gratitude Card Slide Deck onto the classroom projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Arrange art supplies (colored paper, markers, scissors) at each table station

Step 1

Introduction to Gratitude

5 minutes

  • Display slides 1–3 from the Gratitude Card Slide Deck to define gratitude and its importance
  • Invite 2–3 students to share something they feel grateful for

Step 2

Brainstorming Ideas

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Gratitude Card Worksheet
  • Students list 2–3 recipients (classmate, teacher, family) and jot down heartfelt messages or memories to include

Step 3

Design and Crafting

20 minutes

  • Provide each student with colored paper folded in half to form a card
  • Using their worksheet notes, students write messages inside and decorate the exterior with markers and embellishments
  • Encourage creativity: drawings, stickers, borders, or patterns

Step 4

Sharing and Reflection

5 minutes

  • Pair students to exchange cards and read aloud messages (optional: allow students to keep their own cards for family)
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: “How did it feel to express gratitude? How did it feel to receive it?”

Step 5

Conclusion and Cleanup

5 minutes

  • Collect any cards intended for classroom delivery or mailing
  • Students help organize and return art supplies
  • Close with a reminder to practice gratitude daily
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Slide Deck

Creative Gratitude Cards

An art and writing activity to express appreciation and build empathy.

Use a warm salmon-to-coral gradient background. Greet students and introduce today’s activity. Script: “Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to make Creative Gratitude Cards—special cards to show appreciation to someone you care about.”

What Is Gratitude?

• Feeling thankful for kind acts or support
• Recognizing helpful people in our lives
• Expressing appreciation through words or actions

Keep the same gradient. Script: “Gratitude means noticing and sharing the good we experience. It helps our relationships grow stronger.”

Examples of Gratitude

• Writing “Thank you for helping me.”
• Drawing a picture for a friend
• Giving someone a high-five or hug
• Holding the door open for a classmate

Show the slide and read each example aloud. Script: “Here are some ways we can show gratitude.”

How to Create Your Card

  1. Choose your recipient (friend, teacher, or family)
  2. Fold a sheet of colored paper in half
  3. Brainstorm a heartfelt message on your worksheet
  4. Write your message inside the card
  5. Decorate the front with drawings and colors

Walk students through each step. Script: “We’ll follow these five simple steps to create our cards.”

Reflection Prompts

• How did you feel when writing your message?
• What was it like to receive a card?
• How can you practice gratitude every day?

Use this slide to guide reflection after sharing. Script: “Let’s think about how it felt to give and receive gratitude.”

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Worksheet

Gratitude Card Worksheet

Use this worksheet along with the Creative Gratitude Cards Lesson Plan and the Gratitude Card Slide Deck to guide your ideas before making your card.

Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________

1. Choose Your Recipient(s)

List 2–3 people you want to thank. For each, write why you appreciate them.

  1. Recipient: ____________________________
    Why I’m grateful:





  2. Recipient: ____________________________
    Why I’m grateful:





  3. Recipient: ____________________________
    Why I’m grateful:





2. Reflect on Feelings

What feelings do you want to share in your card? Describe in a few words.







3. Recall a Special Memory

Write about a memory or moment you shared with your chosen recipient. How did it make you feel?












4. Draft Your Message

Compose the message you will write inside your card. Start each line as if it will appear in the folded card.

Line 1: ____________________________________________



Line 2: ____________________________________________



Line 3: ____________________________________________



Line 4: ____________________________________________



Line 5: ____________________________________________


(Add more lines if needed.)

5. Sketch Your Card Design

Use the space below to draw a simple sketch of what your card’s front will look like (colors, images, patterns, etc.).

















You’re all set to begin crafting your personalized gratitude card!

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