Gratitude Grows Script

Warm-Up: Share a Spark (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon everyone! Let's start our session today with a quick warm-up. I want you to take a moment and think about one small thing that brought a smile to your face recently. It could be anything – maybe a sunny day, listening to your favorite song, or even just a really good snack you had. Don't overthink it, just share the first small, positive thing that comes to mind. Who wants to share first?"

(Allow a few students to share their 'sparks' to get everyone engaged and thinking positively.)

Introduction to Gratitude (5 minutes)

"Thank you for sharing those lovely moments! Those small sparks are actually a perfect lead-in to our topic today: Gratitude!"

(Transition to Gratitude Grows Slides - Slide 1: Welcome to Gratitude Grows!)

"As you can see, our lesson today is called 'Gratitude Grows.' We're going to explore how focusing on the good things, even small ones, can really help us."

(Transition to Gratitude Grows Slides - Slide 2: What is Gratitude?)

"So, what is gratitude? When you hear that word, what comes to mind?"

(Allow for a few student responses.)

"That's right! At its core, gratitude is being thankful and appreciative. It's about noticing and valuing the good things in your life, whether they're big, like a loving family, or small, like finding a comfy pair of socks in the morning. It's more than just saying 'thank you'; it's a genuine feeling of appreciation."

(Transition to Gratitude Grows Slides - Slide 3: Why Does Gratitude Matter?)

"Now, you might be thinking, 'Okay, so I should be thankful... but why does it matter? What's the big deal?' Well, practicing gratitude can have some pretty amazing benefits for all of us. It can make you feel happier and more positive, help you cope with stress when things get tough, improve your relationships because you're appreciating others more, and generally boost your overall well-being. It even helps you find the good on those challenging days."

Gratitude Brainstorm & Share (5 minutes)

(Transition to Gratitude Grows Slides - Slide 4: What Are You Grateful For?)

"Let's put this into practice. Looking at the slide, we have a few examples. But what about you? Let's do a quick class brainstorm. Think about anything, big or small, that you can be grateful for right now. Shout out your ideas!"

(Write student ideas on the board or type them out for the class to see. Encourage a variety of responses.)

"Fantastic ideas! See how many different things we can appreciate when we take a moment to think about it?"

Gratitude Journal Activity (10 minutes)

(Transition to Gratitude Grows Slides - Slide 5: Your Gratitude Journal)

"Now it's your turn to dive a little deeper with our Gratitude Journal Activity. I'm going to hand out these journals/direct you to the digital version. This is a space for you to reflect and write down specific things you are grateful for today, and why."

"There are a few prompts to guide you, but feel free to write about anything that comes to mind. Take your time with this; it's a personal reflection. Remember, there's no right or wrong answer here – just honest feelings of appreciation."

(Distribute or guide students to the Gratitude Journal Activity. Circulate the room to offer support or answer questions. Consider playing some calm background music.)

Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)

(Allow students to finish their journal entries, then bring their attention back to the front.)

"Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. I hope that activity gave you a chance to really think about the good things in your life. Remember, gratitude is like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it gets!"

(Transition to Gratitude Grows Slides - Slide 6: Keep Gratitude Growing!)

"To keep that gratitude muscle growing, I encourage you to try a few 'next steps':

• Find three good things each day: Before you go to bed, or when you wake up, just think of three things you're grateful for. They don't have to be big.
• Share your gratitude: Tell someone you appreciate them, or thank a family member for something they did.
• Continue your Gratitude Journal Activity: You can keep using it to jot down your thoughts and feelings of gratitude."

"Finally, before you leave today, please complete this quick Gratitude Grows Cool-Down exit ticket. It will help me see what you took away from our session."

"Thank you all for your thoughtful participation today. Keep growing that gratitude!"

Gratitude Grows Warm-Up: Share a Spark

Instructions: Think about one small thing that has brought a smile to your face recently. It doesn't have to be anything huge – just a small moment or detail that made you feel good.

Be ready to share your

My Gratitude Journal

Take a few moments to reflect on the good things in your life today. Use the prompts below to guide your thoughts.

Prompt 1: Today, I am grateful for...

(Think about specific people, experiences, or things from today or this week that you appreciate.)

Prompt 2: One small thing that made me smile recently is...

(It could be as simple as a song, a sunny moment, or a kind word.)

Prompt 3: How does thinking about these things make you feel?

(Describe the emotions you experience when you focus on gratitude.)

Prompt 4: What is one way you can show gratitude to someone else this week?

(Think about an action you can take to express your appreciation.)

Gratitude Grows Cool-Down: Exit Ticket

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly before you leave today.

1. In your own words, what is gratitude?
   
   
   

2. Name one new thing you learned or remembered about gratitude today.
   
   
   

3. What is one way you might try to practice gratitude in your daily life?