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Gratitude & Growth

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Lesson Plan

Gratitude & Growth Lesson Plan

Students will cultivate gratitude and track personal growth through guided journaling exercises, reflecting on positive experiences and setting intentions for a resilient summer break.

By fostering daily reflection and appreciation, this lesson builds self-awareness, optimism, and emotional resilience, supporting students’ well-being as they transition into summer.

Audience

Grades 6-12 students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided journaling prompts with discussion and sharing.

Materials

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Project the title slide from the Gratitude & Growth Slide Deck.
  • Ask students: “What’s one good thing that happened to you this week?”
  • Explain today’s goal: to notice and document everyday positives and plan for growth over summer.

Step 2

Guided Journaling Session

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Gratitude & Growth Journal Template.
  • Prompt 1: “List three things you’re grateful for today and why.” (5 min)
  • Prompt 2: “Describe one personal strength you used recently.” (5 min)
  • Prompt 3: “Set one goal or intention for your summer break.” (5 min)
  • Allow final 5 minutes for free writing or additional reflections.

Step 3

Pair and Share

10 minutes

  • Have students pair up and share one gratitude entry and one summer intention.
  • Encourage active listening and ask partners to give positive feedback.
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share insights or goals with the whole class.

Step 4

Wrap-Up and Next Steps

10 minutes

  • Summarize key takeaways: gratitude builds resilience; intentions guide growth.
  • Ask students to commit to one journaling habit over summer (daily/weekly).
  • Collect journals or ask students to keep them; explain when and how they can revisit their entries.
  • End with a closing slide from the Gratitude & Growth Slide Deck reinforcing optimism.
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Slide Deck

Gratitude & Growth

Cultivating appreciation and setting intentions for a resilient, optimistic summer break.

Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce yourself and explain today’s journey: using gratitude and journaling to grow personally as summer approaches.

What Is Gratitude?

Gratitude means recognizing and appreciating the good things—big or small—in our lives. Research shows it boosts happiness, resilience, and overall well-being.

Define gratitude. Ask for a few quick student examples. Use this slide to spark a short discussion: Why does noticing the good in our lives matter?

Journaling Prompt #1

List three things you’re grateful for today—and explain why each one matters to you.

Distribute the journals. Give students 5 minutes to write. Circulate and encourage detail—ask “why?” for each item.

Journaling Prompt #2

Describe one personal strength you recently used. How did it help you overcome a challenge or achieve a win?

After the time is up, remind students to reflect on how they’ve used strengths before sharing. Prepare to transition to the next prompt.

Journaling Prompt #3

Set one goal or intention for your summer break. What will you do or practice to grow this season?

Prompt students to think forward. Encourage them to choose a meaningful but achievable intention for their summer.

Pair & Share

• Pair up and share one gratitude entry and one summer intention.
• Listen actively and offer positive feedback.
• Volunteers can share highlights with the whole class.

Explain the value of sharing: builds community and accountability. Allow pairs 5 minutes to share, then invite volunteers to speak.

Key Takeaways

• Practicing gratitude builds resilience.
• Recognizing strengths boosts confidence.
• Setting intentions guides our growth.

Highlight the three main lessons. Ask students to note which takeaway resonates most with them.

Keep It Going!

Commit to your journaling habit:
• Choose your frequency (daily/weekly)
• Revisit and reflect on past entries
• Watch yourself grow!

Encourage students to continue journaling over the summer. Offer ideas: daily bullet lists, weekly reflections, or photo-journals.

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Journal

Gratitude & Growth Journal Template

Date: ___________________________

Prompt 1: List three things you’re grateful for today—and explain why each one matters to you.







2. ____________________________________________________________






3. ____________________________________________________________





Prompt 2: Describe one personal strength you recently used. How did it help you overcome a challenge or achieve a win?












Prompt 3: Set one goal or intention for your summer break. What will you do or practice to grow this season?








Free Reflection

Use this space to capture any additional thoughts, experiences, or ideas as you continue your journey of gratitude and growth.












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