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Joyful Journals

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Lesson Plan

Joyful Journals Lesson Plan

Students will reflect on and record at least three daily moments of joy or gratitude in a personal journal, fostering positive mindset and self-awareness.

Cultivating gratitude and focusing on positive experiences supports students’ emotional well-being, resilience, and writing fluency by encouraging daily reflection.

Audience

4th-6th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Guided journaling with prompts and sharing

Materials

Blank Journals, Writing Utensils (Pens or Pencils), Joyful Journals Slide Deck, and Joyful Journals Reflection Template

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Display title slide from Joyful Journals Slide Deck
  • Explain lesson objective: noticing and recording daily joys
  • Invite 2–3 volunteers to share a recent joyful moment

Step 2

Guided Prompt Discussion

10 minutes

  • Show prompt slide: "What made you smile this week?"
  • Discuss possible examples: small acts, nature, friendship
  • Hand out Joyful Journals Reflection Template
  • Read through template sections together

Step 3

Journal Writing

15 minutes

  • Ask students to write at least three brief entries of joyful or thankful moments from today or the past week
  • Encourage use of descriptive language (Who? What? How did it feel?)
  • Circulate to support with sentence starters or prompts as needed

Step 4

Peer Sharing

5 minutes

  • Pair students to share one journal entry with a partner
  • Prompt partners to ask a follow-up question (e.g., "Why was that moment special?")

Step 5

Closure & Reflection

10 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share one entry with the class
  • Formative assessment: Quick exit ticket—students write one new thing they’ll notice today
  • Differentiation:
    • Provide sentence starters for writers needing support
    • Offer challenge prompt (e.g., "Describe a joy you’d like to create tomorrow")
  • Homework: Encourage daily journaling using their template
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Slide Deck

Joyful Journals: Reflecting on Positivity

Personal Journals of Joy and Gratitude

Welcome everyone! Today we’re launching our “Joyful Journals” lesson. Explain that over the next 45 minutes we’ll explore gratitude, notice moments of joy, and record them in our personal journals.

Lesson Objectives

  • Reflect on and record at least three moments of joy
  • Develop a positive mindset through daily journaling
  • Share and discuss joyful experiences

Read each objective aloud. Ask if there are any questions about what they’ll do today.

Why Focus on Joy and Gratitude?

  • Strengthens emotional well-being
  • Builds resilience in challenging times
  • Enhances writing fluency through daily practice

Explain why focusing on gratitude matters. Invite students to share quick examples of times when noticing something positive helped them feel better.

What Made You Smile This Week?

Think about small moments like:

  • A kind gesture
  • Time spent in nature
  • Laughter with a friend

What brought you joy?

Pose the question and give students 30 seconds to think quietly. Then solicit 2–3 volunteers to share responses.

Journal Reflection Template

[Screenshot of Reflection Template]

Template Sections:

  1. Date
  2. Joyful Moment
  3. Who was involved?
  4. How did it feel?

Distribute the Joyful Journals Reflection Template. Walk through each section so students know how to complete it.

Journal Writing

Write at least three brief entries of joy or gratitude:

  • Use descriptive details (Who? What? Where? How?)
  • Be honest and specific
  • Aim for one entry per template section

Invite students to write at least three entries. Circulate and offer sentence starters (e.g., “I felt happy when…”). Provide quiet support.

Peer Sharing

• Share one journal entry with your partner
• Listen actively and ask a follow-up question
– “Why was that moment special?”

Pair students and remind them to listen carefully. Encourage each partner to ask “Why was that moment special?”

Closure & Exit Ticket

  1. Volunteer shares one journal entry
  2. Exit ticket: Write one new thing you’ll notice today

Homework: Continue daily journaling using your template

Invite volunteers to share one entry aloud. Then hand out a sticky note or index card for the exit ticket.

Thank You!

Keep noticing and recording moments of joy and gratitude every day.

Remind students that gratitude journaling can be a daily habit. Encourage them to notice small joys.

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Journal

Joyful Journals Reflection Template

Use this template to record at least three daily moments of joy or gratitude. For each entry, answer the prompts and feel free to doodle your moment in the space provided.

Date: _______________________________

Entry 1

  • Joyful Moment:





  • Who was involved?:





  • How did it feel?:





  • Doodle your moment:










Entry 2

  • Joyful Moment:





  • Who was involved?:





  • How did it feel?:





  • Doodle your moment:










Entry 3

  • Joyful Moment:





  • Who was involved?:





  • How did it feel?:





  • Doodle your moment:










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