Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Someone who is grateful is thankful for people, nature, and things. Stewardship means taking good care of what we’ve been given. In short: Thankful for every blessing, big or small. Summary: Mom and son take Duke the dog on a “thank you walk.” They observe birds at their feeder, give a horse a carrot, help a beetle get off its back, and each time the animals say “thank you” in their own special animal languages. Lesson Objectives:

Students learn about the good things that can happen on a “thank you walk”. They get inspired to do the same thing and invite their families to go on a “thank you” walk, too.

Guiding Questions:

Can you explain what a “thank you walk” is?
Who goes for a walk with the mom and son?
Why are the birds thankful?
Why is the horse thankful?
What do the mom and son do to help the beetle?
Do you think animals can “talk”? How does the dog say “thank you?”
When you walk out your front door, what do you see? Do you see anything for which you are thankful? Flowers? Trees? Neighbors? Animals?
Do you think trees and plants have a “thank you”language for those who take care of them?
What if you did something really, really nice for someone and they forgot to thank you. How would that make you feel?
Tell your family about the book we just read and invite them to go with you on a “thank you” walk.

🌿 Virtue Connection: Gratitude means noticing and appreciating what is already good.

Activities for This Story.

Gratitude, Levels Pre-K, K

Resource: A Thank You Walk, read aloud- By Miss Bethany and Baby Silas #readaloud

Activity: Students go on a “Thank You Walk” after reading this story. They are guided to notice what’s special around them and why we should be thankful for it.

Materials needed: A place to walk and observe nature - if that’s not available, a place to walk and observe what’s special around them

Directions: Show the video. Invite students to talk about the walk in the story, and let them know that you will be taking them on their own “Thank You Walk”. As you go on the walk, prompt them if needed, to notice objects and situations for which they can be thankful. Pause when a student notices something and ask the student to say why they feel thankful for it.

Wrap it up: Explain that it’s important to notice when people, places, and things make us feel grateful, and share what you’re feeling with others around you, or at least say it out loud or in your mind. Tell students to share their gratitudes with you and with their classmates when they notice something for which they feel thankful. Ask them to invite their family members to go on a “Thank You Walk” with you at home.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.