This resource can be accessed online or used as a tool to develop your own version of a gratitude book. The important thing is that each page is dedicated to a different gratitude topic, so that students can become more mindful of a variety of areas where they can explore their gratitudes.
Activity: Writing in Gratitude journals and class discussions
Materials needed: paper for creating journals - either use free printable journal pages, or supply blank paper; writing and drawing materials; word wall with vocabulary that fits this activity
Directions: Explain: “We will start a gratitude journal where you will keep track of your gratitudes in words and pictures. Every day for the next 4 weeks, you will have 5 minutes of class time to write and draw about your gratitudes, so remember to think about what you will write as you go about your day. Each day we will help each other to think of something new for which to be grateful and discuss what we have written.” Distribute material for making a cover. Provide a word wall, based on students’ and teacher’s ideas and add to the word wall whenever possible. Guide students to be specific when they write. Example: If a student says, “I’m grateful for my family,” encourage them to write and share details about a specific time when they felt like that.
Wrap it up: Explain that we all need to be reminded of the good things that happen in our lives everyday. Researchers study gratitude and have concluded that people who are able to be consistently grateful, everyday, are happier than those who tend to focus on all the bad things. It is important to be aware of the challenges in our lives, and use trustworthy people and strategies to solve them, but at the same time, we need to think about what makes us feel thankful.
Related resource: https://www.printablesfairy.com/printable-gratitude-journal-for-kids/
This resource can be accessed online or used as a tool to develop your own version of a gratitude book. The important thing is that each page is dedicated to a different gratitude topic, so that students can become more mindful of a variety of areas where they can explore their gratitudes.
Activity: Writing in Gratitude journals and class discussions
Materials needed: paper for creating journals - either use free printable journal pages, or supply blank paper; writing and drawing materials; word wall with vocabulary that fits this activity
Directions: Explain: “We will start a gratitude journal where you will keep track of your gratitudes in words and pictures. Every day for the next 4 weeks, you will have 5 minutes of class time to write and draw about your gratitudes, so remember to think about what you will write as you go about your day. Each day we will help each other to think of something new for which to be grateful and discuss what we have written.” Distribute material for making a cover. Provide a word wall, based on students’ and teacher’s ideas and add to the word wall whenever possible. Guide students to be specific when they write. Example: If a student says, “I’m grateful for my family,” encourage them to write and share details about a specific time when they felt like that.
Wrap it up: Explain that we all need to be reminded of the good things that happen in our lives everyday. Researchers study gratitude and have concluded that people who are able to be consistently grateful, everyday, are happier than those who tend to focus on all the bad things. It is important to be aware of the challenges in our lives, and use trustworthy people and strategies to solve them, but at the same time, we need to think about what makes us feel thankful.
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