Lesson Plan
Gratitude Grove
Students will be able to define gratitude, identify things they are grateful for, and express gratitude to others.
Practicing gratitude helps students cultivate a positive mindset, improve relationships, and increase overall well-being.
Audience
Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
Time
45-60 minutes
Approach
Interactive storytelling, reflective writing, and collaborative sharing.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Gratitude Grove Slide Deck, Markers or pens, Gratitude Journal, Gratitude Tree Activity materials, Construction paper (various colors), Scissors, and Glue or tape
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Gratitude Grove Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
* Print or prepare to display the Gratitude Journal for each student.
* Gather materials for the Gratitude Tree Activity: large piece of butcher paper or poster board for the tree trunk and branches, small pieces of colored construction paper for leaves, markers, glue/tape.
* Ensure you have markers or pens for writing.
* Review all generated materials as needed.
Step 1
Introduction: What is Gratitude?
10 minutes
- Begin by displaying the first slide of the Gratitude Grove Slide Deck.
* Ask students, 'What does it mean to be thankful?' and 'What makes you feel happy and appreciative?' (refer to Discussion Prompts).
* Introduce the concept of gratitude through a short story or a simple explanation: 'Gratitude is when we notice and appreciate the good things in our lives, big or small.'
* Lead a brief class discussion using prompts from the Gratitude Discussion.
Step 2
Story Time & Reflection
15 minutes
- Share a story about gratitude (e.g., 'The Little Yellow Leaf' by Carin Berger or a simple story you create about appreciating everyday things).
* After the story, guide students to reflect on things they are grateful for using the Gratitude Journal prompts.
* Encourage them to draw or write about one thing they are thankful for today.
Step 3
Gratitude Tree Activity
15 minutes
- Explain the Gratitude Tree Activity. Distribute small pieces of construction paper (leaves) to each student.
* Instruct students to write or draw something they are grateful for on their 'leaf'.
* As students finish, have them come up and glue or tape their leaves onto a large tree outline you've prepared on a wall or board, creating a 'Gratitude Grove'.
* Play calm, reflective music during this activity.
Step 4
Share and Close
5-10 minutes
- Invite a few students to share what they put on their leaf and why they are grateful for it.
* Reiterate the importance of noticing and appreciating good things every day.
* Conclude with a positive affirmation about having thankful hearts and how it makes us feel warm and happy inside.
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Slide Deck
Gratitude Grove: Growing Thankful Hearts
A journey to discover and appreciate the good things in our lives!
Welcome students. Ask them what they think "gratitude" means or "thankful" means. Introduce the idea of growing thankful hearts. Use Gratitude Discussion prompts.
What is Gratitude?
It's noticing and appreciating the good things around us!
It makes our hearts happy!
Explain gratitude simply: noticing and appreciating good things. Give examples like sunshine, a friend, a yummy snack. Ask students for their own examples.
What Makes You Feel Thankful?
Think about...
- Something you saw today.
- Something you heard.
- Something you tasted.
- Someone who helped you.
Encourage students to think about things they see, hear, taste, touch, and feel that they are thankful for. Provide a moment of quiet reflection.
Your Gratitude Journal
A special place to draw or write about what you are thankful for!
Introduce the idea of a gratitude journal. Explain that drawing or writing helps us remember these good feelings. Refer to the Gratitude Journal material.
Our Gratitude Tree
Let's grow a tree full of our thankful thoughts!
Explain the activity: each student gets a 'leaf' to write/draw on. Then, they add their leaf to the class 'Gratitude Tree'. Emphasize that every contribution is important. Refer to the Gratitude Tree Activity material.
Sharing Our Thankful Hearts
When we share what we're grateful for, our happiness grows!
Lead a brief sharing session. Encourage students to listen to each other. Conclude by reinforcing that gratitude helps us feel happier and closer to others. Use Gratitude Discussion prompts.
Journal
My Gratitude Journal
Being grateful means noticing all the good things in our lives! Use this journal to draw or write about what makes your heart feel thankful.
Prompt 1: Happy Moments
What is one thing that made you smile today? Draw or write about it!
Prompt 2: Thankful for Someone
Who is someone you are grateful for? Why are you thankful for them?
Prompt 3: My Favorite Place
What is your favorite thing about your classroom or school? Draw or write about it!
Prompt 4: Kindness Matters
Draw or write about a time someone was kind to you. How did it make you feel?
Prompt 5: Small Joys
What is one small, everyday thing you are thankful for (like sunshine, a warm bed, or a favorite toy)?
Activity
Our Class Gratitude Tree
Introduction: We are going to grow a special tree in our classroom! This tree will show all the wonderful things we are grateful for. When we share our gratitude, our thankful hearts grow bigger and stronger!
Materials:
- Large paper tree trunk and branches (prepared by your teacher on a wall or board)
- Small pieces of colored construction paper (these will be your leaves!)
- Crayons or markers
- Glue or tape
Instructions:
- Your teacher will give you a small piece of colored paper, like a leaf.
- Think about something you are grateful for. It can be anything – your family, a pet, a favorite food, a sunny day, a toy, or a friend!
- On your paper leaf, you can draw a picture of what you are grateful for, or you can write a word or a short sentence about it.
- When you are finished, bring your leaf to the Gratitude Tree. We will glue or tape all of our leaves onto the tree branches.
- Watch our Gratitude Tree grow as everyone adds their thankful thoughts! We will have a beautiful tree filled with all the good things in our lives.
Sharing: When our tree is complete, we will take turns sharing one thing from our leaf if you feel comfortable. It's wonderful to hear what makes others feel grateful!
Discussion
Let's Talk About Being Thankful!
Introduction: Today, we're going to talk about something wonderful: gratitude! It's all about noticing and appreciating the good things in our lives. Let's share our ideas and help our thankful hearts grow!
Discussion Prompts:
- What does it mean to be "thankful" or to have "gratitude"? How does it feel in your body when you are thankful?
- Can you think of something small that happened today or yesterday that made you happy? It doesn't have to be a big thing!
- (Teacher can give examples: "I was thankful for my warm coffee this morning," or "I saw a beautiful bird outside the window!")
- (Teacher can give examples: "I was thankful for my warm coffee this morning," or "I saw a beautiful bird outside the window!")
- Who is someone in your life that you are grateful for? What do they do that makes you feel appreciated or happy?
- What is one thing about our classroom or school that you are thankful for?
- How can we show someone that we are grateful for them? What are some ways you can say "thank you" with your words or actions?
- Why do you think it's important to practice gratitude every day?
- Imagine our classroom as a "Gratitude Grove." What kind of thankful leaves would we see on our tree?
Discussion
Let's Talk About Being Thankful!
Introduction: Today, we're going to talk about something wonderful: gratitude! It's all about noticing and appreciating the good things in our lives. Let's share our ideas and help our thankful hearts grow!
Discussion Prompts:
- What does it mean to be "thankful" or to have "gratitude"? How does it feel in your body when you are thankful?
- Can you think of something small that happened today or yesterday that made you happy? It doesn't have to be a big thing!
- (Teacher can give examples: "I was thankful for my warm coffee this morning," or "I saw a beautiful bird outside the window!")
- (Teacher can give examples: "I was thankful for my warm coffee this morning," or "I saw a beautiful bird outside the window!")
- Who is someone in your life that you are grateful for? What do they do that makes you feel appreciated or happy?
- What is one thing about our classroom or school that you are thankful for?
- How can we show someone that we are grateful for them? What are some ways you can say "thank you" with your words or actions?
- Why do you think it's important to practice gratitude every day?
- Imagine our classroom as a "Gratitude Grove." What kind of thankful leaves would we see on our tree?