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Gratitude: Thankful Hearts

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Warm Up

What Makes You Smile?

Think about something small that happened recently that made you feel good or happy. It could be anything! Maybe someone said something kind, you saw something cool, or you just enjoyed a moment.

Write down one thing you are grateful for right now. Why does it make you feel grateful?











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Lesson Plan

Gratitude: Thankful Hearts

Students will identify and articulate specific things they are grateful for and understand why expressing gratitude is important for personal well-being and relationships.

Practicing gratitude can significantly improve emotional well-being, foster positive relationships, and help students recognize the good in their lives, even during challenging times.

Audience

5th Grade Boys

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through discussion and an interactive activity, students will explore and express gratitude.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Gratitude Warm Up, Gratitude Journeys Slide Deck, Thankful Hearts Activity, Gratitude Reflection Discussion, and Gratitude Exit Ticket Cool Down

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm Up: What Makes You Smile?

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Gratitude Warm Up.
    - Instruct students to silently reflect and write down one thing they are grateful for and why. (Individual support as needed)
    - Briefly share a few examples as a whole group to set a positive tone.

Step 2

Introduction: Why Gratitude Matters

5 minutes

  • Use the first few slides of the Gratitude Journeys Slide Deck to introduce the concept of gratitude.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Gratitude Reflection Discussion to explore initial understandings of gratitude and why it's important. (Focus on individual contributions within a small group setting, encouraging each student to share their thoughts).

Step 3

Activity: Thankful Hearts Chain

15 minutes

  • Explain the Thankful Hearts Activity. Each student will write down several things they are grateful for on separate strips of paper or pre-cut heart shapes.
    - Individually, students will complete their 'Thankful Hearts'. If working in a small group, encourage them to share one or two items with a partner.
    - Guide students to connect their 'Thankful Hearts' to create a class or small group gratitude chain (optional, depending on group size and time).

Step 4

Cool Down: One Last Thought

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Gratitude Exit Ticket Cool Down.
    - Ask students to complete the cool down activity, reflecting on one new thing they learned or felt about gratitude today.
    - Collect cool-down tickets as an exit assessment.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Gratitude Journeys!

Today, we're going to explore something super important: Gratitude!

What does that big word even mean?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of gratitude. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear the word 'gratitude'.

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is being thankful and showing appreciation for the good things in your life.

It's about noticing and being happy for the things you have, not just wishing for what you don't have.

Explain what gratitude is in simple terms. Emphasize that it's about noticing the good things, big or small.

Why Be Thankful?

Being thankful can make you:

  • Happier!
  • More positive!
  • A better friend or family member!

It helps us see the good around us, even on tricky days.

Discuss why gratitude is important. Connect it to personal feelings and relationships with others. Use prompts from the discussion material.

Your Thankful Heart!

Today, you'll create a 'Thankful Heart'!

Think about:

  • People you care about
  • Fun things you do
  • Things you have
  • Experiences you've had
  • Anything that makes you happy!

Introduce the Thankful Hearts activity. Explain that they will write down what they are grateful for.

Keep Gratitude Going!

Gratitude isn't just for one day.

How can you remember to be thankful every day?

Conclude with a thought-provoking question to reinforce the lesson. Transition to the cool-down.

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Discussion

Gratitude: Let's Talk About It!

Use these questions to guide a conversation about gratitude. Encourage each student to share their thoughts and experiences.

Opening Questions:

  1. What does the word "gratitude" mean to you? How would you explain it to a friend?


  2. Can you think of a time when you felt really thankful for something? What happened?





Deepening the Conversation:

  1. Why do you think it's important to be grateful? How does it make you or others feel?





  2. Is it always easy to be grateful? Why or why not? What makes it hard sometimes?


  3. Besides saying "thank you," what are some other ways you can show someone you are grateful for them?





Connecting to Everyday Life:

  1. How do you think practicing gratitude could change your day, or even your whole week?


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Activity

My Thankful Heart

Today, we are going to create a 'Thankful Heart' to show all the wonderful things we appreciate in our lives!

## Instructions:
1. Think about all the people, things, and experiences that make you feel happy and grateful. Don't limit yourself! Big things, small things, funny things, serious things – anything goes!
2. On each line below, write one thing you are thankful for.
3. If you have special paper or pre-cut heart shapes, you can write one item on each heart. Otherwise, just use this sheet!

---

### I am thankful for...

1.























Reflection:
Which item on your list makes you smile the most when you think about it? Why?






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Cool Down

Gratitude Exit Ticket

Before you go, let's reflect on our gratitude journey today.

1. One new thing I learned about gratitude today is...




2. One way I can practice gratitude in my life this week is by...




3. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not at all, 5 = very much), how much did learning about gratitude make you feel happier today?

(Circle one):   1   2   3   4   5

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