Gratitude Grows Script

Introduction & Warm-Up: What is Gratitude? (3 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 1: What's the Buzz About Gratitude?)

"Good morning/afternoon everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really powerful that can make a big difference in our lives and in our school community: gratitude."

"Take a moment to look at the slide. When you hear the word 'gratitude,' what comes to mind? What does it mean to you? Don't worry about a perfect answer, just share your initial thoughts."

(Pause for student responses. Encourage a few students to share.)

"Great ideas! Many of you mentioned saying thank you, or being thankful. That's definitely part of it. But let's dig a little deeper."

(Teacher displays Slide 2: Gratitude: More Than Just 'Thanks')

"Gratitude is truly about noticing and appreciating the good things, both big and small, that happen in our lives. It's about recognizing the kindness we receive, the help people offer, and the positive experiences we have, even on a regular day. It's an active way of seeing the good."

Exploring Benefits & The Gratitude Chain (5 minutes)

"So, why bother being grateful? Does it really make a difference? Let's look at some of the amazing benefits."

(Teacher displays Slide 3: Why Be Grateful? The Superpowers of Gratitude!)

"When we practice gratitude, it's like unlocking a superpower! It can make you a Happier You! because it boosts positive emotions. It leads to Stronger Friendships! by improving your relationships with others. It can even lead to Better Health! by helping to reduce stress. And for our school, it helps create Awesome School Vibes! because it fosters a more positive and supportive environment."

"Has anyone ever noticed these benefits in their own lives? Maybe you felt better after someone thanked you, or you felt closer to a friend after you thanked them?"

(Pause for a few student shares.)

"Now, let's talk about how we can actually show gratitude to others. It's one thing to feel it, but it's another to express it."

(Teacher displays Slide 4: Unlocking Your Gratitude Power!)

"How do you think we can show gratitude to others? Think about your classmates, your teachers, the school staff – anyone in our school community. What are some ways we can make them feel appreciated?"

(Take a few responses.)

"Excellent ideas! Now, we're going to do a quick activity to see how expressing gratitude can spread throughout our classroom. We're going to create a Gratitude Chain Activity."

(Teacher displays Slide 5: The Gratitude Chain: Spreading Good Vibes!)

"I'm going to start by writing down something I'm grateful for about our class on a strip of paper. Then I'll pass it to one of you, and you'll write something you're grateful for about a classmate, connect it to mine, and pass it on. Let's see how long we can make our chain of appreciation in just a few minutes!"

(Guide students through the Gratitude Chain Activity. Provide pre-cut paper strips if possible, or have students rip small pieces of paper.)

Gratitude Bingo & Reflection (5 minutes)

"Wow, look at our gratitude chain! It just goes to show how much good there is when we take a moment to notice. Now, let's play a quick game to help us spot even more good around us."

(Teacher displays Slide 6: Gratitude Bingo: Spot the Good!)

"We're going to play Gratitude Bingo Game! Each square has something you might be grateful for, or an action you might do to show gratitude. I'm going to give you each a bingo card. Your goal is to find classmates or school staff who fit the descriptions in the squares and have them initial the square. Let's see how many we can get in a few minutes!"

(Distribute Gratitude Bingo cards and allow students 2-3 minutes to mingle and fill out squares.)

"Time's up! Did anyone get a bingo? Awesome! It's amazing how many reasons we have to be grateful when we actively look for them."

"To wrap up our gratitude exploration, I want you to take a moment for individual reflection. I'm handing out a Gratitude Reflection Worksheet. On this worksheet, I want you to think about at least three specific things or people you are grateful for today within our classroom or school. Then, think about one specific action you can take to show that gratitude this week."

(Distribute the worksheet and give students 2 minutes to begin filling it out.)

Wrap-Up & Cool Down (2 minutes)

(Teacher displays Slide 7: Make Gratitude Your Superpower!)

"Alright class, let's bring it back together. We've talked about what gratitude is, why it's so powerful, and some different ways we can show it."

"As a final thought, I want you to think about this: What is one thing you learned or were reminded of today about gratitude that you want to try to practice this week?"

(Allow 1-2 students to share briefly.)

"Fantastic! Remember, practicing gratitude doesn't have to be a huge task. It can be a small thank you, a kind word, or just taking a moment to appreciate something good. Making gratitude a regular part of your life can truly make your world, and our school, a brighter place. Keep those gratitude superpowers charged!"

Gratitude Discussion Prompts

Introduction Prompts:

• What does the word "gratitude" mean to you?
  
  
  
• Can you think of a time when someone showed you gratitude? How did it make you feel?
  
  
  
• What are some things, big or small, that you are grateful for right now?

Exploring Benefits Prompts:

• We talked about how gratitude can make you happier. How do you think appreciating things can lead to more happiness?
  
  
  
• How might showing gratitude to a friend make your friendship stronger?
  
  
  
• Can you think of a time when showing gratitude (or receiving it) made a situation at school feel more positive?

Showing Gratitude Prompts:

• Besides saying "thank you," what are other ways we can show appreciation to our classmates?
  
  
  
• What about our teachers or other school staff? How can we make them feel seen and valued?
  
  
  
• Why is it important to actively express gratitude, not just feel it?

Wrap-Up/Cool Down Prompts:

• What is one new idea you learned today about gratitude?
  
  
  
• What is one small way you plan to practice gratitude or show appreciation this week?
  
  
  
• How might practicing gratitude more often change our classroom or school community?

Gratitude Chain Activity

Objective: To visually demonstrate how expressing gratitude can spread positivity and connection within the classroom.

Materials:

• Pre-cut strips of paper (approximately 1 inch x 8 inches) – one for each student, plus extras.
• Tape or stapler.

Instructions for Students:

1. Teacher Starts: Your teacher will start by writing something they are grateful for about the class or school on one strip of paper. They will connect it into a loop and pass it to the first student.

2. Add Your Gratitude: When you receive a paper strip (or take a new one), think of one specific person or thing within our classroom or school community that you are grateful for. It could be:

   • A classmate who helped you with something.
   • A teacher who taught you something interesting.
   • A school staff member (e.g., custodian, librarian, lunch staff) who made your day better.
   • A specific moment in class that you enjoyed.
   • A learning opportunity you appreciate.

3. Write It Down: Clearly write your gratitude statement on the strip of paper. (e.g., "I am grateful for [classmate's name] for helping me with the math problem.")

4. Connect and Pass: Once you've written your statement, form a loop with your strip of paper and connect it to the previous student's loop (or your teacher's loop if you're the first student). Secure it with tape or a staple. Then, pass the growing chain to the next student.

5. Keep it Going! Continue the process until all students have added to the chain. Observe how the chain grows longer with each expression of gratitude.

Teacher Notes:

• Encourage students to be specific with their gratitude. Instead of "I'm grateful for my friends," prompt them for specific actions or qualities. (e.g., "I'm grateful for Sarah because she always listens to my ideas.")
• If time is short, you can limit the chain to a certain number of links or ask students to share their gratitude verbally after writing it, before connecting.
• Display the completed gratitude chain in the classroom as a reminder of the positive connections.

Gratitude Bingo!

Objective: To encourage students to identify and acknowledge various sources of gratitude and positive interactions within their school community.

Materials:

• Gratitude Bingo Card (one per student)
• Pencils or pens

Instructions:

1. Get Your Card: Each student will receive a Gratitude Bingo Card.

2. Mingle and Find: Your goal is to move around the classroom and school (if permitted and time allows) to find classmates or school staff who fit the descriptions in the squares. For example, if a square says "Find someone who helped you with homework this week," you would find a classmate who did that.

3. Get an Initial: Once you find someone who fits a description, ask them to initial that square on your card. Each person can only initial one square on your card.

4. Aim for Bingo! Try to get a "Bingo" by completing five squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).

5. Share Your Gratitude: When you get a Bingo (or when time is called), be ready to share some of the people and reasons you were grateful for them!

Gratitude Bingo Card

(Teacher: You can create a simple 5x5 grid for students, or distribute a pre-made card. Here are some example squares. Ensure a "Free Space" is included!)

Gratitude Reflection Worksheet

Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

Part 1: My Gratitude Today

Think about our lesson on gratitude. What are three specific things or people that you are grateful for today? Be specific!

1. I am grateful for...
   
   
   

2. I am grateful for...
   
   
   

3. I am grateful for...
   
   
   

Part 2: Spreading the Gratitude

Now, think about one specific action you can take this week to show gratitude to someone in our classroom or school community. How will you make them feel appreciated?

My gratitude action plan:

Part 3: The Ripple Effect

Why do you think showing gratitude to others can make our classroom and school a better place for everyone?