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The Gratitude Garden: Cultivating Joy

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Lesson Plan

The Gratitude Garden: Cultivating Joy

Students will be able to identify and express aspects of their lives for which they are grateful, fostering a more positive outlook.

Practicing gratitude can significantly improve emotional well-being, reduce stress, and build resilience by training the mind to focus on positive experiences.

Audience

K-12 Students

Time

45-60 minutes

Approach

Guided reflection, creative expression, and group sharing.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Gratitude Garden Slide Deck, Gratitude Blooms Activity, and My Gratitude Journal

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

10 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion: "What does 'gratitude' mean to you?" (2 minutes)
    - Introduce the lesson using the Gratitude Garden Slide Deck (Slides 1-3). Explain that today we'll be cultivating our own 'Gratitude Garden' (8 minutes)

Step 2

Guided Reflection

15 minutes

  • Guide students through a reflection exercise using prompts from the Gratitude Garden Slide Deck (Slides 4-6). Ask them to think about:
    - People they are grateful for
    - Things they own or experiences they've had
    - Nature or their environment
    - Small, everyday moments
    - Encourage quiet individual reflection before moving on.

Step 3

Gratitude Blooms Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Gratitude Blooms Activity. (2 minutes)
    - Explain the activity: Students will write or draw things they are grateful for on the petals of their 'gratitude bloom'. (3 minutes)
    - Circulate and assist students as they complete their blooms. (10 minutes)

Step 4

Share & Reflect

10 minutes

  • Invite students to share one or two things from their gratitude bloom with a partner or the whole class. (5 minutes)
    - Facilitate a brief discussion: "How does it feel to think about what you're grateful for?" (5 minutes)

Step 5

Journaling & Wrap-Up

5-10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Gratitude Journal or instruct students to dedicate a page in their own notebooks. (1 minute)
    - Introduce the journaling prompt from the My Gratitude Journal or the Gratitude Garden Slide Deck (Slide 7). (2 minutes)
    - Encourage students to continue adding to their gratitude journal regularly. (2-7 minutes for journaling)
    - Conclude by reiterating the power of gratitude and how it can help them feel happier and more resilient.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to The Gratitude Garden!

What does "gratitude" mean to you?

Let's plant some seeds of joy today!

Welcome students and introduce the concept of gratitude. Ask an open-ended question to get them thinking.

Why Gratitude?

Gratitude means being thankful for the good things in our lives.

It helps us:

  • Feel happier
  • Be more positive
  • Build strength when things are tough

It's like watering a garden of good feelings!

Explain why gratitude is important. Connect it to feeling happier and stronger.

Cultivating Our Joy

Today, we're going to create our own "Gratitude Garden."

We'll think about all the amazing things we're thankful for, big and small!

Introduce the idea of cultivating their own gratitude garden.

Who Are You Grateful For?

Think about the people who bring joy to your life:

  • Family members
  • Friends
  • Teachers
  • Pets

Who makes you smile? Who helps you?

Guide students to reflect on people they are grateful for. Give them a moment to think.

What Are You Grateful For?

Think about things you have and experiences you've had:

  • Your favorite toy or book
  • A fun trip or memory
  • A special meal
  • Your home or school

What makes your life better?

Guide students to reflect on things/experiences they are grateful for.

Small Joys & Nature's Gifts

Sometimes, it's the little things:

  • A sunny day
  • A delicious snack
  • The sound of birds singing
  • A good laugh

What small moments made you happy today? What about nature?

Guide students to reflect on everyday moments and nature.

Your Gratitude Bloom

Now, let's create a "Gratitude Bloom"!

Write or draw what you are grateful for on each petal.

Then, we'll share our blooms and plant them in our class garden!

Introduce the Gratitude Blooms activity and explain the next steps.

Keep Your Garden Growing!

Our Gratitude Garden doesn't stop today!

Use your My Gratitude Journal to keep track of new things you're grateful for every day.

What else can you add to your garden of joy this week?

Explain the journaling component as a way to continue practicing gratitude.

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Activity

Gratitude Blooms Activity

Instructions:

  1. Cut out the flower shape below, including all the petals.
  2. On each petal, write or draw something you are grateful for. Think about people, things, experiences, or even small moments!
  3. Once your petals are full of gratitude, you can decorate your bloom.
  4. Be ready to share one or two of your gratitude blooms with the class!

My Gratitude Bloom

(Imagine a large flower outline here with 6-8 petals for students to write/draw on. A simple drawing of a flower with blank petals or a template can be provided by the teacher.)





















































































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Journal

My Gratitude Journal

Gratitude is like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it gets! Use this journal to record things you are grateful for each day or whenever you need a boost. Keeping a gratitude journal can help you notice more good things in your life and feel happier.

Journal Prompts:

Prompt 1: Today I am grateful for...

What are three specific things that happened today or that are true about your life right now that you feel grateful for? Describe each one briefly.












Prompt 2: A person who made a difference...

Think about someone who helped you, made you smile, or taught you something new recently. Who were they, and what did they do? How did it make you feel?












Prompt 3: A simple joy...

What is one small, everyday thing that often goes unnoticed but brings you a little bit of happiness? It could be a sound, a sight, a taste, or a feeling.












Prompt 4: Looking ahead with gratitude...

What is one thing you are looking forward to in the coming days or weeks? How does thinking about it make you feel?












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The Gratitude Garden: Cultivating Joy • Lenny Learning