Feeling Thankful Lesson Plan Feeling Thankful
Lesson Plan: Introduction to Gratitude
30 Minutes
K-3 (Autism/DD)
Why This Matters
Learning gratitude helps students appreciate positive things in their lives, fostering emotional well-being and positive social interactions. For students with autism, concrete examples of "thankfulness" help build social-emotional understanding.
Objective
"Students will be able to identify and express at least two things they are grateful for."
Prepare Materials
Review Gratitude Slides and practice the script.
Print Lily and the Little Leaf story for each student.
Pre-cut tree trunks and leaf shapes from construction paper.
Organize crayons, markers, and glue sticks.
Material Checklist
Projector / Whiteboard
Gratitude Slides
A Grateful Story Reading
My Thankful Tree Activity
Construction Paper
Crayons & Markers
Glue Sticks
Instructional Steps
1
Warm-Up: What Makes You Happy?
5 MIN
Greet students and ask: "What is something that made you happy today?"
Allow each student to share one thing. Use visual supports if needed.
Introduce the idea of being thankful for these things, linking it to the concept of gratitude .
2
Introducing Gratitude
5 MIN
Use the Gratitude Slides to introduce the word and its meaning.
Explain that gratitude is feeling thankful for the good things in our lives.
Show examples: family, friends, toys, food, nature.
3
A Grateful Story
10 MIN
Read Lily and the Little Leaf aloud.
Pause: "What was the character thankful for here?" or "How did being thankful make the character feel?"
Encourage students to share their own connections to the story elements.
4
My Thankful Tree Activity
10 MIN
Students will create a tree and write/draw thankful items on leaves.
Provide construction paper (trunk, leaf shapes) and glue.
Circulate to assist with drawing or scribing words as needed.
Wrap-up: Invite students to share one leaf from their tree.
Feeling Thankful Slides Welcome!
What makes you happy?
Let's share something that made us smile today!
Note: Acknowledge what makes them happy to set a positive tone.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is feeling thankful for good things!
It means you appreciate what you have.
Note: Emphasize "thankful." Use simple language and facial expressions.
Things to Be Thankful For
Family & Friends
Toys & Games
Yummy Food
Nature
Animals
Our School
Note: Concrete examples. Ask students: "Do you have these?"
Story Time!
We're going to read about Lily, who learns to be thankful for little things.
Note: Explain the character will show how to practice gratitude.
Thankful Tree
We will make a tree with all the things we are thankful for!
Cut & Glue
Color & Draw
Show & Share
Note: Explain they will create their own tree with paper leaves.
Keep Being Thankful!
Remember all the wonderful things in your life.
Being thankful makes us feel happy!
Note: Reinforce happiness connection. Encourage daily thinking.
Grateful Story Reading Lily and the
Little Leaf
Lily loved to play. She had many toys, a cozy bed, and delicious snacks. But sometimes, Lily forgot to notice all the good things around her. She would just want more, more, more!
One sunny morning, Lily was playing outside. She saw a tiny green leaf fall from a big tree. It danced and twirled in the air before landing gently on the grass. Lily picked it up. It was so soft and had pretty little veins.
"Wow," she thought, "this little leaf is really special."
Later, her mom brought her a snack of apple slices. Usually, Lily just ate them quickly without thinking. But today, she looked at the bright red apple slices and remembered the little leaf.
She thought about how the sun helped the tree grow the leaf, and how the sun helped the apple tree grow the yummy apples.
"Thank you, Mom, for the apples," Lily said with a big smile.
That evening, Lily looked out her window. She saw the bright moon and twinkling stars. She thought about her warm blanket, her cuddly teddy bear, and her family who loved her very much.
"I am thankful for my cozy bed," she whispered. "And for the moon, and for my family."
From that day on, Lily tried to find one new thing to be thankful for every day. And guess what? The more thankful Lily became, the happier she felt inside.
My Thankful Tree Activity My Thankful Tree
I can find things that make me happy!
NAME:
DATE:
How to make your tree:
1
Color your tree trunk brown.
2
Draw or write things you love on your leaves.
3
Glue the leaves onto the tree branches.
4
Share your tree with a friend!
My Thankful Tree
Ideas: My Family, My Toys, My Dog, Pizza, Sunshine, My Teacher