Lesson Plan
The Thankful Heart Lesson Plan
Students will define gratitude, identify personal reasons for thankfulness, and express appreciation through written reflection. This lesson aims to cultivate a positive mindset and improve emotional well-being.
Understanding and practicing gratitude helps students recognize the good in their lives, fostering a more positive outlook, increasing empathy towards others, and building a happier classroom community.
Audience
4th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Storytelling, discussion, and guided reflection.
Materials
"The Thankful Heart" Story](#the-thankful-heart-story), Gratitude Reflection Worksheet, and Slide Deck: The Thankful Heart
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the The Thankful Heart Lesson Plan and all linked materials: "The Thankful Heart" Story, Gratitude Reflection Worksheet, and Slide Deck: The Thankful Heart.
- Print copies of the Gratitude Reflection Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare your projector or screen for the Slide Deck: The Thankful Heart.
Step 1
Introduction: What is Gratitude?
5 minutes
- Begin by displaying the title slide of the Slide Deck: The Thankful Heart.
- Ask students: "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'gratitude'?" Allow a few students to share.
- Explain that gratitude is about being thankful for the good things in our lives, big or small. Use Slide 2 of the Slide Deck: The Thankful Heart to guide this discussion. Lead a brief discussion: "Why do you think it's important to be thankful?"
Step 2
Story Time: "The Thankful Heart"
10 minutes
- Introduce the story: "Today, we're going to read a special story called 'The Thankful Heart.' As I read, think about what the character learns about being thankful."
- Read aloud "The Thankful Heart" Story to the class. Display the story on the board if possible, or have students follow along if you provide copies.
Step 3
Discussion & Reflection
5 minutes
- After reading, use Slide 3 of the Slide Deck: The Thankful Heart to prompt a class discussion:
- "What was Elara thankful for at the beginning of the story?"
- "How did Elara's feelings change throughout the story?"
- "What helped Elara discover more things to be thankful for?"
- "Can you think of a time when you felt like Elara, needing to look closer to find things to be thankful for?"
Step 4
Gratitude Reflection Worksheet
8 minutes
- Distribute the Gratitude Reflection Worksheet.
- Explain the activity: "Now it's your turn to think about the wonderful things in your life. On this worksheet, you'll write down things you are thankful for and why they are special to you."
- Guide students to complete the worksheet, encouraging them to think broadly about their family, friends, school, nature, and even small everyday joys.
Step 5
Wrap-up & Share (Optional)
2 minutes
- Ask for a few volunteers to share one thing they wrote on their Gratitude Reflection Worksheet.
- Conclude by reiterating the power of a thankful heart: "Remember, practicing gratitude helps us see the good all around us and makes us feel happier. Let's try to find something to be thankful for every day!"
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Slide Deck
The Thankful Heart
Today, we'll explore what it means to have a thankful heart!
Welcome students and introduce the lesson's theme. Ask them what 'gratitude' means to them. This sets the stage for our story.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is being thankful for the good things in your life.
It's about noticing and appreciating all the blessings, big or small.
- Why is it important?
- It makes us happier!
- It helps us appreciate what we have.
- It can make others feel good too!
Use this slide to define gratitude and explain its importance. Encourage students to share examples of things they are thankful for in their daily lives.
Reflecting on Elara's Journey
Let's think about Elara's journey:
- What was Elara mostly thankful for at the beginning?
- How did her feelings change?
- What helped her discover new things to appreciate?
- Can you relate to Elara's experience?
After reading "The Thankful Heart" story, use these questions to facilitate a class discussion. Encourage students to refer back to the story if needed.
Your Thankful Heart
Now it's your turn!
Take some time to think about all the things you are thankful for.
- What makes you happy?
- Who helps you?
- What simple joys do you notice around you?
Introduce the 'Gratitude Reflection Worksheet'. Explain that this is their chance to think deeply about their own thankful hearts. Encourage them to be creative and thoughtful.
Keep a Thankful Heart!
Remember to look for things to be thankful for every day.
It makes the world a brighter place!
This is a concluding slide. Thank students for their participation and emphasize the ongoing practice of gratitude. Ask for a few volunteers to share something from their worksheet if time permits.
Reading
The Thankful Heart
Elara trudged through the forest path, kicking at fallen leaves. It was a crisp autumn morning, and while most people found the colorful leaves beautiful, Elara only saw them as messy. She often felt this way about many things. Her lunch was always the same, her pencil always broke, and her little brother always borrowed her favorite book without asking.
"It's just another ordinary day," she mumbled to herself. "Nothing special ever happens around here."
As she walked, she noticed an old woman sitting on a moss-covered log, carefully polishing a small, smooth stone. The woman smiled warmly. "Good morning, child. You seem to carry a heavy cloud today."
Elara shrugged. "It's just... nothing exciting. The same old, same old. I wish I had something truly amazing to be thankful for."
The old woman chuckled softly. "Ah, a thankful heart doesn't wait for amazing, child. It finds wonder in the ordinary." She held up the polished stone. "See this? To some, it's just a rock. To me, it's a piece of the earth, strong and steady, smoothed by time and water. I am thankful for its journey, and for the quiet moment I have to admire it."
Elara looked at the stone, then back at the old woman. "But how do you find things to be thankful for when everything feels... normal?"
"It's like looking for hidden treasures," the woman explained. "You have to open your eyes and your heart. Try it. For the rest of your walk, find three 'ordinary' things you usually ignore, and think about why you could be thankful for them. Not big, flashy things, just everyday wonders."
Elara, though skeptical, agreed. She waved goodbye and continued her walk. Three ordinary things, she thought. This would be hard.
First, she noticed the path beneath her feet. Usually, she just walked on it. But today, she thought about how it led her to school, to her friend's house, and through the quiet forest. I'm thankful for this path, she realized, because it takes me where I need to go.
Next, she saw a busy squirrel burying nuts. She usually just hurried past, but today she watched its quick, efficient movements. I'm thankful for the squirrels, she thought, for reminding me that nature is always busy and full of life, even when I don't notice.
Finally, she heard the distant sound of the school bell. Instead of groaning about school, she thought about her friends she would see, the new story her teacher would read, and the colorful art supplies in the classroom. I'm thankful for school, she whispered, because it gives me a place to learn and friends to play with.
By the time Elara reached the school gates, the heavy cloud she had carried was gone. Her heart felt a little lighter, a little warmer. It wasn't about finding huge, extraordinary things, but about truly seeing and appreciating the simple, constant gifts around her.
From that day on, Elara tried to keep her eyes and heart open. She still had ordinary lunches and a brother who borrowed books, but she also started finding a hundred little treasures in her day – the sunbeam on her desk, the sound of laughter, the smell of freshly cut grass. She realized that a thankful heart wasn't about changing the world, but about changing how she saw it.
Worksheet
My Thankful Heart
Think about the story of Elara and the old woman. Even ordinary things can be special when you look at them with a thankful heart!
What are some things, big or small, that you are grateful for today? Write them down below and explain why each one is special to you.
1. Something I am thankful for:
Why is it special to me?
2. Something else I am thankful for:
Why is it special to me?
3. One more thing I am thankful for:
Why is it special to me?
Bonus: What does having a "thankful heart" mean to you now?