Lesson Plan
Garden of Thoughts Plan
Students will identify and nurture positive thoughts by “planting” them as seeds in a garden metaphor, then reflect on care strategies through craft and journaling.
This session builds self-awareness and coping skills by translating abstract thoughts into tangible activities, helping 3rd graders practice positive mindset habits.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Garden metaphor with craft and reflection
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
5 minutes
- Review Garden of Thoughts Plan to familiarize with session flow
- Preview Seed to Bloom Slides and ensure slide equipment is ready
- Gather materials: Thought Seed Planting Craft supplies and Growth Reflection Log journals
- Create a calm environment with soft seating or cushions
Step 1
Welcome and Grounding
5 minutes
- Greet the student and explain today's session focus on positive thoughts
- Lead a brief breathing exercise: inhale growth, exhale worries
- Introduce the garden metaphor
Step 2
Exploring the Garden Metaphor
7 minutes
- Display first slides from Seed to Bloom Slides to illustrate garden components
- Discuss how thoughts are like seeds: some positive, some negative
- Ask the student to name one positive thought they'd like to plant
Step 3
Thought Seed Planting Craft
10 minutes
- Guide the student to select a colored paper ‘seed’ from Thought Seed Planting Craft kit
- Have the student write or draw a positive thought on the seed
- Assist the student in ‘planting’ the seed in a mini pot, adding ‘water’ via decorated water drops
Step 4
Growth Reflection Journaling
6 minutes
- Provide Growth Reflection Log and ask the student to reflect on how they will care for their thought seed
- Prompt questions: ‘What will you do to help your thought grow?’ ‘How will you recognize growth?’
Step 5
Closing and Next Steps
2 minutes
- Summarize key takeaways and reinforce nurturing positive thoughts
- Encourage the student to revisit their pot daily and add entries to their reflection log
- Praise effort and note plan for next session
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Welcome to the Thought Garden
Let’s start by taking a deep breath. Inhale growth, exhale worries.
Greet the student warmly. Lead a simple breathing exercise: inhale growth, exhale worries. Explain that today’s session will explore how to plant and care for positive thoughts using a garden metaphor.
Our Garden Metaphor
A garden has soil, seeds, water, and sunlight. Each part helps plants grow.
Introduce each garden element and its meaning. Soil = your mind, seeds = thoughts, water & sunlight = how you care for your thoughts.
Thoughts Are Seeds
Positive thoughts are like bright seeds that can grow strong plants. Negative thoughts are like weeds that can hold plants back.
Discuss examples of positive (happy, proud) and negative (scared, angry) thoughts. Ask the student to share one positive thought they’d like to plant today.
Planting Your Thought Seed
Choose a paper seed and write or draw a positive thought on it. Plant it in your mini pot and add decorated water drops to help it grow.
Guide the student to select a paper seed from the kit. Encourage them to write or draw their chosen positive thought. Help them plant it in the mini pot and decorate with water drops.
Caring for Your Garden
Water your seed with kind words every day. Shine it with good actions like helping others. Pull out any weeds (negative thoughts) gently.
Explain how daily kindness, positive actions, and noticing unhelpful thoughts nurture the seed. Encourage the student to name one watering reminder they’ll use.
Growth Reflection
Use your journal to answer:
• How will you help your thought grow?
• What will you notice when it’s growing?
Hand over the journal and read the prompts together. Support the student as they write or draw their answers.
Next Steps
Visit your Thought Garden daily. Add new seeds and journal entries as you grow strong positive thoughts. Great work today!
Summarize the key points: planting, caring, and reflecting. Praise the student’s effort and remind them to revisit their garden and journal each day. Briefly preview next session’s focus.
Activity
Thought Seed Planting Craft
Description: In this hands-on craft, you’ll cut out colorful paper “seeds,” write or draw a positive thought on each one, and plant them in a mini pot. Finally, you’ll decorate your seeds with paper water drops to remind you to nurture your thoughts every day.
Materials:
- Colored paper (pre-cut seed shapes or solid sheets to cut your own)
- Scissors
- Markers or colored pencils
- Mini planting pot (small cup or recycled container)
- Water drop cutouts (blue paper drops) or stickers
- Glue stick or tape
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare Your Seeds (2 minutes)
- If seeds aren’t pre-cut, fold a sheet of colored paper in half and cut out small seed shapes (about the size of a coin).
- Name Your Positive Thought (3 minutes)
- Use a marker to write or draw one positive thought on each paper seed (for example: “I am brave,” “I can learn,” or a simple smiley face).
- Plant Your Seeds (3 minutes)
- Gently press your thought seed into the soil (or craft moss) in your mini pot. If you’re using a paper base inside the pot, tuck the seed into the slit or hole so it stands up.
- Decorate with Water Drops (2 minutes)
- Glue or tape the paper water drops around the seed in the pot rim or on the pot itself. Each drop reminds you to water your seed with kind words and positive actions each day.
- Display and Care
- Place your thought garden somewhere you can see it daily. Each morning or evening, say your positive thought aloud and add a quick journal note in your Growth Reflection Log.
Teacher Tips:
- Encourage neat handwriting or creative drawings.
- Offer gentle prompts if a student struggles to identify a positive thought (e.g., “What is something you did that made you proud?”).
- Reinforce that watering their seeds is like practicing good habits: a little bit every day helps them grow strong.
Journal
Growth Reflection Log
Use this journal each time you visit your Thought Garden. Write or draw your reflections to help your positive thoughts grow stronger.
Entry Date: ____________________
1. My Thought Seed
What positive thought did you plant today?
2. How I Watered My Seed
Name one action or kind words you used to help your thought grow.
3. Signs of Growth
What did you notice that shows your thought is growing?
4. My Feelings Today
How did watering your thought make you feel?
5. Draw or Describe Your Flower
If your thought seed became a flower, what would it look like? Draw or describe its color, shape, and size.
6. Looking Ahead
What new positive thought would you like to plant next time?
Keep your Growth Reflection Log with your Thought Seed Planting Craft and review it each day to nurture your Thought Garden!