Lesson 15: Gratitude

Lesson Resources

Learning Objectives

The purpose of this lesson is for students to be able to define gratitude and express gratitude for what they have.

Lesson Content

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” – Zig Ziglar

When we show gratitude, we are demonstrating that we care for the things that we are given and for the people who give them to us.

Essential Terms

gratitude, thankful, take for granted

Lesson Plan

Activity 1: (5 minutes/day) GRATITUDE CHAIN

Tell the class you’ll be creating a Gratitude Chain. Invite students to write on a slip of paper one thing they are grateful for and connect it to the class chain. By the end of the week, the chain should wrap around the class. It is a visual representation of all the wonderful things that we all have in our lives.

Activity 2: (15 minutes) THANKFUL

Watch Kid President’s 25 Reasons to Be Thankful.

What are some things that you’re thankful for?

Create your own list of 25 reasons to be thankful!

Activity 3: (30 minutes) TAKE FOR GRANTED

There are some things that we take for granted that other people don’t have, like food, water, and shelter. Put students in groups of 3–4 and have them research a charity or organization within their community that they could volunteer at or donate to. Have students research what the charity or organization does, its purpose, where it’s located, and what they can do to help. Use the Community Research handout to help.

Activity 4: (30 minutes) WRITE A LETTER

Watch Kids Talk Gratitude about the power of gratitude and saying thank you. Write a thank you letter to someone that you’re grateful for. Use the Thank You Letter handout to help write the thank you letter.

Activity 5: (20 minutes) GRATITUDE SCAVENGER HUNT

Invite students to work in partnerships to find the following 7 things (or they can take a photo of them with a tablet):

something that makes you happy
something to give to someone else to make them smile
something you love to smell
something you enjoy looking at
something that is your favorite color
something you are thankful for in nature
someone you are thankful for in the school (don’t forget to tell them thanks)

Discussion/Journal Prompts

What are some things that you’re grateful for?
Who are you grateful for?
How can we show the people we love that we’re grateful for them?
What can you do to help people that don’t have food, shelter, or water?

Strategies

Keep a gratitude journal.
Say thank you.
Identify others around you who need service.
Volunteer and serve in your community.
Donate things that you don’t use anymore or canned goods to people who are in need.

Application & Extension

Children’s Bureau. (June 27, 2018). Teaching Kids How to Be Grateful Through Activities. All 4 Kids. https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/how-to-teach-the-value-of-gratitude-to-children/
Participant. (November 19, 2015). Kid President’s 25 Reasons To Be Thankful! [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA5Qpt1JRE4
Stefani. (n.d.). 5 Ways to Teach Gratitude to Children. Simple Acres Blog. https://simpleacresblog.com/5-ways-to-teach-gratitude-to-children/
Work Human. (May 1, 2019). Kids Talk Gratitude – And You’ll Be Grateful You Watched [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwsXYQQOuxU

References

Children’s Bureau. (June 27, 2018). Teaching Kids How to Be Grateful Through Activities. All 4 Kids. https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/how-to-teach-the-value-of-gratitude-to-children/
Participant. (November 19, 2015). Kid President’s 25 Reasons To Be Thankful! [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA5Qpt1JRE4
Stefani. (n.d.). 5 Ways to Teach Gratitude to Children. Simple Acres Blog. https://simpleacresblog.com/5-ways-to-teach-gratitude-to-children/
Work Human. (May 1, 2019). Kids Talk Gratitude – And You’ll Be Grateful You Watched [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwsXYQQOuxU