Gratitude Grows Lesson Plan Gratitude Grows!
Lesson Plan • 2nd Grade SPED
30 Minutes
Why This Lesson?
Understanding and expressing gratitude helps students develop positive emotional regulation, build stronger relationships, and foster a more optimistic outlook. It teaches them to recognize and appreciate the good things in their lives, big and small.
Preparation
• Review slide deck and reading passage.
• Gather: construction paper (brown, green, red, yellow, orange), glue sticks, scissors, markers.
• Set up whiteboard/projector.
• Print reading passage and craft guides.
Objective
Students will be able to define gratitude and identify at least three things they are thankful for.
Approach
Direct instruction, reading, hands-on craft, and guided discussion.
Required Materials
Whiteboard/Projector
Slide Deck
"The Thankful Tree" Reading
Handprint Tree Activity Guide
Construction paper (multi)
Markers or crayons
Child-safe scissors
Glue sticks
Discussion Prompts
"One Thankful Thought" Tickets
Instructional Steps
5m
Introduction: What is Gratitude?
Ask: "What does it mean to be thankful?"
Show Slide 1-2: Define gratitude as "being thankful for the good things in your life."
Give examples (sunny days, friends, yummy snacks).
3m
Why Be Grateful?
Show Slide 3: Discuss importance.
Emphasize that it makes us and others feel happy inside.
7m
Reading: The Thankful Tree
Show Slide 4: Introduce the story.
Read aloud with expression.
Check comprehension: "What was Lily thankful for?"
10m
Activity: Handprint Tree Craft
Show Slide 5: Demonstrate tracing the hand and forearm on brown paper.
Distribute materials and guide cutting/gluing.
Students write 3 thankful things on separate colorful leaves.
3m
Discussion & Sharing
Use the Discussion Prompts material.
Encourage students to share one leaf from their tree.
Remind them to listen respectfully.
2m
Cool Down: One Thankful Thought
Distribute "One Thankful Thought" tickets.
Students draw or write one new thing that made them smile.
Collect as an exit ticket.
Gratitude Grows Slides Gratitude Grows!
Let's learn about being thankful!
Teacher Notes: Welcome students. Ask: "What does it mean to be thankful?" Allow for responses. Emphasize no wrong answers.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude means being thankful for the good things.
It's about noticing and appreciating the positive things, big or small!
Sunny Day
Friends
Good Food
Kindness
Teacher Notes: Provide concrete examples. "It's like feeling happy and warm inside when someone helps you."
Why Be Grateful?
It makes us feel happy inside.
It helps us see the good things around us.
It can make others feel good too!
Teacher Notes: Connect gratitude to feelings and interactions. "When we thank someone, it's like giving them a smile."
Story Time
The Thankful Tree
We're going to read a special story about being thankful.
Teacher Notes: Introduce the story. "Listen carefully for what Lily is thankful for. Is she thankful for things you like too?"
Hands On
Our Thankful Tree Craft
Let's create a beautiful tree filled with all the things we are grateful for!
Cut
Write
Glue
Teacher Notes: Briefly explain. "You'll get to put all the things you're thankful for on your own handprint tree!"
The Thankful Tree Reading The Thankful Tree
A Story About Gratitude
Once there was a little girl named Lily. Lily loved to play in her backyard, especially near the big oak tree. One sunny morning, her grandma came to visit.
"What a beautiful day, Lily!" said Grandma. "What are you thankful for today?"
Lily thought for a moment. "I'm thankful for the warm sun!" she said, feeling its warmth on her face. "And I'm thankful for my colorful crayons!"
Grandma smiled. "Those are wonderful things to be thankful for. How about we make a Thankful Tree?"
Lily's eyes lit up. "Yes!" They found some paper and markers. Lily traced her hand to make a tree trunk. Then, for every thing she was thankful for, she drew a leaf and wrote it on the leaf.
"I'm thankful for my fluffy cat, Mittens."
"I'm thankful for yummy apples."
"I'm thankful for my best friend, Sam."
Soon, her tree was full of bright, thankful leaves. Grandma helped her tape them to the big oak tree in the backyard. Every day, Lily would look at her Thankful Tree and remember all the good things in her life.
She even added new leaves when she thought of new things. Being thankful made Lily feel happy and warm, just like the sun. And the big oak tree stood tall, showing everyone how much gratitude could grow.
Handprint Tree Activity Guide Gratitude Handprint Tree
Craft Activity Activity Guide
Name
Date
Goal: Create a tree that shows all the things you are thankful for!
What You Need
Brown Paper
Colorful Paper
Pencils
Scissors
Glue Stick
Markers
Step-by-Step Guide
1
Make Your Tree Trunk
Trace your hand and forearm on brown paper. This is your trunk and branches!
2
Cut Out Your Tree
Carefully cut around your tracing. Raise your hand if you need help!
3
Make Your Leaves
Draw at least 3 leaf shapes on colorful paper and cut them out.
4
Write Your Thankful Thoughts
On each leaf, write ONE thing you are thankful for. (Ex: family, friends, toys).
5
Glue Leaves to Your Tree
Stick your leaves onto the branches of your handprint tree!
6
Share Your Work
Get ready to show one thing from your tree to the class.
Gratitude Discussion Guide Let's Talk Gratitude
Thinking about "The Thankful Tree"
After finishing your craft, use these questions to talk with your class!
1
What was one thing Lily was thankful for in the story?
2
Look at your own tree. What is one thing you wrote on a leaf?
3
Why do you think it's important to be thankful?
4
How does being thankful make you feel inside?
5
Has someone ever thanked you? How did that make you feel?
One Thankful Thought Exit Ticket Exit Ticket: One Thankful Thought
Cut along the dotted lines. Give one ticket to each student.
One Thankful Thought
Gratitude Grows! Exit Ticket
Name
Write or draw ONE thing that made you smile today:
Turn this in as you leave!
One Thankful Thought
Gratitude Grows! Exit Ticket
Name
Write or draw ONE thing that made you smile today:
Turn this in as you leave!