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Gratitude Blooms: Thankful Hearts

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Lesson Plan

Gratitude Blooms: Thankful Hearts

Students will be able to identify things they are grateful for and express gratitude through words and actions, fostering a more positive mindset and stronger relationships.

Learning to practice gratitude helps students appreciate the good in their lives, leading to increased happiness, improved self-esteem, and more positive interactions with others. It teaches them to focus on positivity.

Audience

K-3rd Grade Students

Time

45-60 minutes

Approach

Through interactive discussions, creative activities, and personal reflection.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Gratitude Blooms Slide Deck, Gratitude Garden Activity Cards, My Gratitude Journal worksheets, and Sharing Our Thanks Discussion Prompts

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is Gratitude?

10 minutes

  • Begin by asking students what

Step 2

Gratitude Blooms Slide Deck Presentation

10 minutes

Step 3

Gratitude Garden Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups or have them work individually.
    * Distribute the Gratitude Garden Activity Cards.
    * Explain that each card has a picture or a word representing something to be grateful for (e.g., family, friends, pets, sun, toys).
    * Ask students to pick a few cards that resonate with them and share why they are grateful for those things with their group or a partner. If working individually, they can draw or write about them.
    * Facilitate sharing: Bring the class back together and have a few students share one or two things they chose and why.

Step 4

My Gratitude Journal Reflection

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Gratitude Journal worksheets.
    * Explain that a gratitude journal is a special place to write or draw about things they are thankful for.
    * Guide students to complete the first entry in their journal, encouraging them to think about something specific they are grateful for today.

Step 5

Sharing Our Thanks Discussion

5-10 minutes

  • Conclude with a class discussion using the Sharing Our Thanks Discussion Prompts.
    * Encourage students to share their reflections and listen respectfully to their classmates' gratitude.
    * Emphasize that gratitude is a practice we can do every day.

Step 6

Cool Down: One Word Gratitude

5 minutes

  • Ask each student to think of one word that describes how they feel about gratitude or one thing they are grateful for today.
    * Go around the room and have each student share their word. This serves as a quick exit ticket and reinforces the lesson's theme.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Gratitude Blooms!

Growing Thankful Hearts

What does it mean to be thankful?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of gratitude. Ask them what 'thankful' means to them.

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is noticing and appreciating the good things in our lives.

  • Big things (like family and friends)
  • Small things (like a sunny day or a yummy snack)

Explain that gratitude is noticing and appreciating the good things, big or small, in our lives. Give simple examples like sunshine, a friend, a favorite toy.

Why is Gratitude Important?

When we feel grateful:

  • We feel happier inside!
  • We want to be kind to others.
  • We notice all the wonderful things around us.

Discuss why gratitude is important. It makes us feel happier and helps us be kind to others.

Our Gratitude Garden

Let's find things we are grateful for!

  • Pick a card.
  • Think: "Why am I grateful for this?"
  • Share your thoughts with a friend or your group!

Introduce the 'Gratitude Garden' activity. Explain that students will pick cards and share what they are grateful for.

My Gratitude Journal

A special book to write or draw about things you are thankful for.

  • What are you grateful for today?
  • Let's write or draw it in our journals!

Explain what a gratitude journal is and how to use it. Guide them through their first entry.

Sharing Our Thanks

What are some things we shared today that we are grateful for?

  • Listen to your friends.
  • Everyone has something special to be thankful for!

Lead a brief class discussion, encouraging students to share their reflections from the journal or activity.

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Activity

Gratitude Garden Activity Cards

Instructions: Cut out each card. Students will pick a few cards and share why they are grateful for the item or concept pictured/described on the card. They can also draw their own gratitude cards!

Card 1: Family







Card 2: Friends







Card 3: Pets







Card 4: Food







Card 5: Sun







Card 6: Home







Card 7: Toys







Card 8: Nature







Card 9: School







Card 10: Laughter







Card 11: Books







Card 12: Music







My Own Gratitude Card!

Draw or write something you are grateful for:












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Journal

My Gratitude Journal

This is your special journal to write or draw about all the wonderful things you are thankful for!

Today, I am grateful for...

Draw a picture or write about something that made you happy today, or something you are thankful for.













Why does this make you feel grateful?







Another day, another grateful thought...

What else makes you feel thankful? Draw or write about it here.













How does being grateful make you feel?







Something small, something big!

Think about a small thing and a big thing you are grateful for.

Small thing:



Big thing:


Why is it important to notice both small and big things?







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Discussion

Sharing Our Thanks Discussion Prompts

Let's talk about gratitude! These prompts will help us share our thankful hearts with each other.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is one new thing you learned about gratitude today?



  2. Can you share one thing you are grateful for right now? It can be big or small!



  3. How does it feel when someone thanks you? How does it feel when you thank someone else?



  4. What is something in our classroom that you are grateful for?



  5. How can we show gratitude to our family, friends, or teachers this week?



Wrap-Up Question:

If you could tell the whole world one thing you are grateful for, what would it be and why?







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