Gratitude Grows Lesson Plan Gratitude Grows!
Lesson Plan • Grades 3-4
60 Minutes
Tier 1 Classroom Lesson
Why This Matters
Practicing gratitude can lead to increased happiness, stronger relationships, and improved overall well-being. Learning to be grateful helps students develop a positive outlook and appreciate the world around them.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to define gratitude, identify things they are grateful for, and practice expressing gratitude in various ways.
Essential Materials
Whiteboard or projector
Gratitude Grows! Slide Deck & Script
My Gratitude Garden Activity Sheet
Gratitude Journal Worksheet (1 per student)
Gratitude Bingo Boards & Calling Cards
Sticky notes, markers, construction paper, glue
Teacher Preparation
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
• Review the slide deck and script to familiarize yourself with the flow.
• Print copies of the Gratitude Journal and Garden activity sheets.
• Prepare Bingo materials: print student cards and cut calling cards.
• Set up a designated "Gratitude Wall" space for the Cool Down.
Lesson Instructions
10m
Introduction & Warm-Up
Begin with the Gratitude Chain Warm-Up . State one thing you're grateful for and "connect" to the next student. Introduce the theme using Slide 1-2. Ask: "What does gratitude mean to you?"
15m
What is Gratitude?
Present Slides 3-5, explaining the benefits of gratitude (happiness, kindness, less worry). Facilitate a brief discussion using the provided script. Prompt students to share specific things they appreciate.
20m
My Gratitude Garden Activity
Explain the My Gratitude Garden Activity (Slide 6). Distribute construction paper and markers. Students draw or write things they are grateful for on 'flowers' or 'leaves' to build their garden. Circulate and support.
10m
Practice & Reflection
Distribute the Gratitude Journal Worksheet (Slide 7). Model how to use it. Explain that this is a daily habit. Briefly play Gratitude Bingo to reinforce different categories of appreciation.
5m
Wrap-Up & Cool Down
Summarize key takeaways (Slide 8). Engage students in Gratitude Graffiti : students write one thing on a sticky note and place it on the designated wall.
Differentiation Tips:
Support: Provide a word bank or sentence starters (e.g., "I am thankful for my..."). Pair students for discussions.Challenge: Encourage detailed reflections on *why* they are grateful for specific items and how they can show that appreciation. Gratitude Grows Slide Deck Gratitude Grows!
What makes your heart happy?
What is Gratitude?
It's about noticing and being thankful for the good things in our lives, big and small!
Examples:
Sunshine
A warm meal
A friend's smile
A fun story
Why is Gratitude Important?
We feel happier!
We appreciate what we have.
It helps us be kind to others.
It makes us feel less worried.
Think about...
People
Family, friends, teachers, neighbors
Things
Toys, books, cozy clothes, your bed
Experiences
Playing outside, holidays, learning
Nature
Animals, plants, sun, rain, stars
My Gratitude Garden
Let's create a garden where every flower, leaf, or plant represents something you are truly thankful for!
"This is your unique garden of happiness!"
Your Gratitude Journal
A special place to write down or draw things you're grateful for each day.
Even small things count! It helps you remember the good.
1
Think of 3 things.
2
Write or draw them.
3
Notice how you feel!
Gratitude Bingo!
Let's play a game to celebrate all the wonderful things we can be grateful for!
Keep Gratitude Growing!
Remember to notice and appreciate the good things every day. Gratitude can make you, and everyone around you, feel amazing!
Thank You for Sharing!
Gratitude Grows Script Gratitude Grows! Facilitation Script
Teaching Guide & Discussion Prompts
Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Welcome. To start our day, let's think about something that makes our hearts happy. I am grateful for... [share one personal example, e.g., the beautiful weather today]... and now, I'm going to pass this imaginary 'gratitude ball' to [student's name] to share one thing they are grateful for. We're going to create a human chain of gratitude!"
Facilitate the Gratitude Chain Warm-Up activity. Ensure everyone gets a chance to share.
Teacher: "Wow, what a wonderful way to start! It feels good to think about those positive things, doesn't it? Today, we are going to explore a very special feeling called gratitude. Take a look at our first slide: Welcome to Gratitude Grows!"
Teacher: "Now, look at Slide 2: 'What is Gratitude?' What do you think that big word 'gratitude' means? Turn and talk to a partner for 30 seconds. What comes to mind when you hear 'gratitude'?"
What is Gratitude? (15 minutes)
Teacher: "So, why is this feeling of gratitude so important? Let's look at Slide 3: 'Why is Gratitude Important?' When we feel grateful, we often feel happier, we appreciate what we have, it helps us be kind, and it can even make us feel less worried. It's like a superpower for our hearts and minds!"
Teacher: "Now let's think about what we can actually *be* grateful for. Look at Slide 4. It asks us to think about people, things, experiences, and nature. Can anyone share something from these categories? Don't be shy!"
My Gratitude Garden Activity (20 minutes)
Teacher: "That was wonderful sharing! Now, we're going to get creative and make our gratitude grow. We're going to create something called a 'Gratitude Garden'! Look at Slide 5."
Teacher: "In your garden, every flower, leaf, or plant will represent something you are truly thankful for. I will give you construction paper. You can draw a garden scene and add 'flowers' or 'leaves' by writing or drawing things you are grateful for. It's *your* garden, so make it unique!"
Practice & Reflection (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Your gratitude gardens are beautiful! Now we're going to talk about practicing this every day. Look at Slide 6: 'Your Gratitude Journal'. I'm going to hand out a worksheet that's a special place to write down things you're grateful for. Let's try filling out one entry together. What's one thing you're grateful for right now?"
Teacher: "To make our practice even more fun, we're going to play a quick game! Look at Slide 7: 'Gratitude Bingo!' As I call out items, mark them off on your card. The first person to get a bingo wins!"
My Gratitude Garden Activity My Gratitude Garden
Cultivating happiness, one flower at a time!
Gardener Name:
Date:
Our Mission
To creatively express and visualize things you are grateful for. In your gratitude garden, every flower, leaf, or plant represents something unique that makes your heart happy!
Instructions
1
Design Your Background: Use your construction paper to create the scene. You can draw grass, a blue sky, a bright yellow sun, or a white picket fence. This is where your gratitude will grow!
2
Grow Your Plants: Think about the people, things, experiences, or nature moments you appreciate. On separate pieces of paper, draw and cut out different shapes like flowers, leaves, fruits, or trees.
3
Label Your Gratitude: On each shape, write or draw one specific thing you are grateful for. Instead of just writing "family," you might write "my brother helping me with homework" or "hugging my grandma."
4
Plant the Garden: Glue your labeled shapes onto your background to complete your unique Garden of Happiness!
Quick Brainstorm: What will you plant?
Example: My dog's wagging tail
Gratitude Journal Worksheet My Daily Gratitude Journal
Noticing the good things every day
Name
Date
Today, I am taking a moment to notice and be thankful for the good things in my life. Fill out each section below with something specific from your day.
1. Something I saw or heard today:
2. Something someone did for me today:
3. Something I have that helps me:
4. A feeling I felt today that I appreciated:
5. One other thing that made me smile:
Reflection Question:
How did thinking about these things make you feel today?
Gratitude Bingo Guide Gratitude Bingo Guide
Teacher Instructions & Calling Cards
Objective
To reinforce the concept of gratitude by identifying people, things, and experiences we can appreciate in a fun, interactive game.
How to Play
1. Hand out Bingo cards to each student.
2. Use a marker or bean to cover the "FREE" space.
3. Call out items from the list below.
4. Students mark the square if it matches.
5. First to get 4 in a row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) yells "GRATITUDE!"
Calling Cards (Cut along dotted lines)
A Sunny Day
Best Friend
Favorite Book
Healthy Snack
Cozy Home
Fun Song
Kind Teacher
Playing Outside
Family Hug
Cute Animal
Learning New Things
Favorite Meal
Gratitude Bingo Boards Gratitude Bingo!
Mark things you are thankful for!
Sunny Day
Favorite Book
Kind Teacher
Best Friend
Favorite Meal
FREE
Fun Song
Cute Animal
Family Hug
Learning
Cozy Home
Playing
Healthy Food
Fresh Air
Cool Toys
Nature
Gratitude Bingo!
Mark things you are thankful for!
Best Friend
Cute Animal
Fun Song
Learning
Sunny Day
FREE
Favorite Meal
Favorite Book
Cozy Home
Family Hug
Playing
Kind Teacher
Nature
Fresh Air
Healthy Food
Cool Toys
Gratitude Graffiti Guide Gratitude Graffiti
Cool Down Activity Guide
Goal
To reflect on the lesson and collectively visualize our community's gratitude. This activity creates a vibrant "mural" of appreciation that stays in the classroom.
1
Prepare the Wall
Designate a space on your whiteboard, a large poster paper, or a specific classroom wall area as the "Gratitude Wall."
2
Distribute & Write
Give each student one sticky note. Ask them to write or draw ONE thing they are grateful for right now.
Example Prompts:
• "I'm grateful for my lunch today!"
• "I'm thankful for my new shoes."
• "I appreciate my best friend, Sam."
3
Create the Mural
Invite students to come up and stick their notes in a collage style on the wall. Encourage them to place their notes near others that are similar!
Extension Idea
Leave the wall up for the week. Every morning, invite one or two students to add a new "tag" to the gratitude mural to keep the positive energy growing!
