Expressing Gratitude

Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and joy we feel in response to something we've received.

Day 1 - Linking to Brain Research

The Many Gifts of Gratitude

• • When we think about someone or something we truly appreciate our bodies calm themselves.

  • Feelings of gratitude trigger the calming branch of the autonomic nervous system - the parasympathetic system.

The more thankful and appreciative you feel the more dopamine is released in the brain

Dopamine = contentment and motivation

Try this:

• • Think of different situations when you might be stressed or relaxed.

  • Make a T-chart (or print this one): one side "stressed" the other "relaxed"

  • Put them on the correct side of the ANS (autonomic nervous system) chart.

Day 2 - Warm-Up - Remembering Thank You's

Think of at least one time you expressed gratitude ("thank you", "awesome", "I love it") for something.

• • What happened and what did you say?

  • It might help to draw a picture of what happened on your whiteboard

Let's share!

• I'll record your responses on the whiteboard (gratitude chart).

Discuss:

• Look at our list. When did we thank someone?

• What are some other ways that we can feel and show how thankful we are?

Day 3 - Engage, Explore, Reflect - Grow a Gratitude Tree

Preparation:

• • Set up a tree with branches somewhere in the classroom

  • Print out one sheet of leaves for each student (on light green paper if possible).

Engage:

• Define Gratitude: a feeling and a way of thinking that expresses our thanks.

• Share things you are grateful for (not material items) such as....

  • • health

    • learning new things

    • family

    • friends

Explore:

• • Think of at least 2 people to whom you are grateful.

  • Write the name of each person on a leaf and why you are grateful to them. Put your name on the back.

  • Share what you wrote then add them to our Gratitude Tree.

Reflect:

• • Watch as our Gratitude Tree grows and blossoms.

Day 4 - Career Connection

Gratifying Work

• Feeling grateful allows anyone anywhere to relax and feel a sense of peace and happiness.

• This is especially true if the job a person is doing is stressful.

• Asking "How am I doing?" is a great way to receive gratitude.

• People who feel appreciated will do their job better.

Kid President's 25 Reasons To Be Thankful - Youtube 3:46

Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often - Youtube 3:30

Discuss:

• • What is a way you have helped someone do something better?

  • When was a time someone (parent, teacher, friend) helped you do something better?

  • How can getting feedback make you feel grateful?

Once a Day

• Find someone you can compliment or help them do something better.

Day 5 - Journal Writing I

Grateful Top 10 Countdown

• On a piece of paper or this special journal page, countdown the top 10 events and / or people in your life you feel grateful for.

Day 6 - Gratitude Stones

Preparation:

• • Find one small, smooth stone for each student - no larger than the size of an egg - the flatter, the better.

  • Rinse and dry the stones so they are free of dirt.

  • Have a variety of sharpie markers.

Process:

• Think of all the things you described being grateful for during the last week.

• Let's brainstorm a list of words that we are MOST grateful for on this chart.

• Pick 3 or 4 of these words that are the most meaningful to you.

• Use a sharpie pen and carefully re-write the word on your gratitude stone.

Reflect:

• • This stone will serve as a reminder of some of the things that make you happy to be alive.

  • When you feel frustrated, angry, sad or upset, take time to pick up your stone and hold it in your hand for a while.

  • As you think about what you wrote on the stone, take some deep breaths and remember the things you value and love in life.

Day 7 & 8 - Gratitude Presentation Page

• For two weeks we've been thinking and talking about why it is so important to be grateful.

• Today you will take what we've spoken about and create a Gratitude Presentation Page.

• Open a new drawing document.

• Fill it with pictures, words, and sentences that represent all of the things you have to be grateful for.

• There are a LOT, so you may need to keep your images small to fit them all.

• Whatever you put in it should really show something you are thankful for.

• Think hard!

• Here is an example.

Day 9 - Journal Writing II - G.R.A.T.I.T.U.D.E. Acrostic Poem

• • Use this journal page to create a GRATITUDE poem.

  • Each letter in gratitude should begin a new word you are grateful for.

Day 10 - Literature Link