As we navigate the dynamic
landscape of teaching, we often find ourselves seeking ways to not only impart
knowledge but also to instill values that transcend the academic realm. With
the holiday season upon us, there's no better time to integrate conversations
about gratitude into our classrooms. In today's fast-paced world, cultivating
an attitude of gratitude can be transformative, impacting the individual,
extending to the classroom, school, and reaching into the broader community and
beyond.
Why Gratitude Matters
Research consistently shows that
adopting an attitude of gratitude has far-reaching positive effects on
individuals' overall well-being. From increased happiness and reduced
depression to improved resilience and better sleep, the benefits are both
scientifically proven and universally experienced. As educators, we have a
unique opportunity to incorporate gratitude into our classrooms. While occasions like Thanksgiving, Veteran's
Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, Mother's Day, and Father's Day naturally lend
themselves to gratitude lessons, the truth is that numerous literary units and
texts provide rich opportunities for incorporating gratitude lessons throughout
the year.
4
Engaging Ideas to Integrate the Value of Gratitude in Your Classroom
With Thanksgiving ahead, I wanted to incorporate lessons on
gratitude and true “thanksgiving” before my students leave on the holiday
break. We have a test midweek and then 2
days before the break. It’s a perfect
time to incorporate these activities with my students. The great thing about these activities is
that you can do only 1 or 2 of them. The
work well independently or as a unit.
Without further ado, here are my top 3 engaging activities
to incorporate gratitude with my secondary students:
1. Gallery Walk of Gratitude Quotes
a.
Print gratitude quotes to hang around the room
for students to view.
b.
Provide a task for students to complete that encourages
students to reflect on the quotes. I’m using
a response sheet that has response-style questions for students to complete. This
ensures that students not only absorb the wisdom of the quotes but also
internalize the essence of gratitude.
c.
Host a small group or whole class discussion
where students get an opportunity to share some of their thoughts and
reflections.
2. Science of
Gratitude Video
Science
has shown that gratitude has a huge positive effect on an individual’s overall well-being. There are so many videos you could use here,
and so many ways to go about discussing them.
I often do show a video and then have students respond journal style,
but for this activity, I wanted to hit some of our speaking and listening standards,
so I created a simple and quick worksheet based on the video. You can easily show one of the videos below
to your class, then have a discussion or quick write response. I’m using video #1, but here are 4 video
suggestions with links:
2.
An Experiment in Gratitude |
The Science of Happiness
3.
The Power of Choosing
Gratitude | Tye Dutcher |
4. Kiss your brain: The science of gratitude | Christina Costa
3. Small Group Collaborative
Discussions & Tasks
Here is a fun and interactive
activity that your students will love! Put students in small groups of 3-4
students. Come up with a few discussion
topics about gratitude and a few tasks for students to complete.
An example discussion question might ask
students to share a time when an act of gratitude had a profound effect on them.
This can be something they did for
someone or something someone did for them.
A task might include writing a
gratitude song to the tune of “Happy Birthday” or another tune that everyone
would know.
4. Letter of Gratitude Writing:
Hopefully, you’ve had time to do a
couple of the other activities and students will appreciate the value of
gratitude. A truly powerful and
impactful activity for students is to invite students to express their
appreciation through letter writing. Whether it's a letter to a friend, family
member, or someone who has made a positive impact, this activity encourages
students to translate their reflections into heartfelt words. If students are
open to it, ask them to share their letters, but I wouldn’t force it as this is
a very personal experience.
If are interested in this resource
completely done for you, you can see it in my store HERE.
By incorporating gratitude into
our classrooms, we sow the seeds of positivity that can create a ripple effect.
As students learn to appreciate the good in their lives, they develop
resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Let's cultivate a culture of gratitude
together, shaping not just knowledgeable individuals but compassionate and
grateful citizens of the world.
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