Teaching SEL: Gratitude

Facilitator: Diana Benner (@diben) | https://bit.ly/tceagratitude

Session Description

When students practice expressing gratitude, they have higher levels of optimism and feel better about life and school. In this livestream, get tips, tools, and ideas for integrating gratitude into your classroom.

defining gratitude

Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has. It is a recognition of value independent of monetary worth. It is an affirmation of goodness and warmth. This social emotion strengthens relationships. Source: Psychology Today

It is a skill (yes, a skill) we want all students to have. Gratitude isn’t a personality trait. It doesn’t magically show up in some students and not in others. Rather, it is a skill; one that can be practiced and refined. It works like a muscle. If you exercise it every day, it stays strong and is easy to use. If you don’t, it will decline in effectiveness.

research & benefits

Research clearly shows that practicing gratitude increases students’ positive emotions and optimism, decreases their negative emotions and physical symptoms, and makes them feel more connected and satisfied with school and with life in general. Source: How to Foster Gratitude in Schools and Grateful Schools, Happy Schools

Studies have shown that when someone gets appreciated, they feel more socially valued, and this can lead to prosocial behavior. In other words, when someone receives thanks, they are more likely to pay it forward. The more teachers express and practice gratitude, the more inclined students will be to do the same, leading to a more appreciative, supportive, and equitable world. Source: A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way

Think about someone you know who displays gratitude daily. What are they like?

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a trusted source for knowledge about high-quality, evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL).

develop your gratitude practice

What are you thankful for? https://www.menti.com/eq2ahc9e22

Take a Gratitude Quiz

To find out how grateful you are, take this quiz, which is based on a scale developed by psychologists Mitchel Adler and Nancy Fagley.

When you're done, you'll get your gratitude score, learn more about the benefits of gratitude, and find resources for cultivating more gratitude in your life.

model gratitude

Express gratitude to in front of your students.

Express gratitude to your students.

Praise students who express gratitude.

Model what it looks like when someone isn’t grateful. While modeling desired behavior is vital, perhaps just as important is modeling behavior that is not desired.

"Just a small offering of appreciation can transform relationships and boost student self-worth. "

gratitude Gram

Model thankfulness by sending gratitude grams to your students, parents, or colleagues. This template created by Dawn Killiany is an example of what she sends to her students.

classroom activities

Gratitude Journal

Have students keep a gratitude journal. Once a week, have students write three things they’re grateful for and why. Be sure to do this activity at least once a week, otherwise, according to research, the activity loses its impact. See Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal

Gratitude JAR

A gratitude jar is the perfect way to help students think about and recognize the things they have to be thankful for. The idea behind the jar is for students to write down something they are grateful for on a piece of paper and place it in the jar. Then, on a specified date, students can draw out and share. This activity is a great way for them to focus on positive things. You can make the jar a part of your regular classroom routine or you can have students jot down things as they think of them.

Gratitude Towers

Incorporate STEM with gratitude and have students create gratitude towers. For this fun, hands-on activity students are given a pile of index cards. On each card they write one thing they are thankful for. Using their index cards and tape students work in small groups to create the tallest tower. The more things they are thankful for the bigger the tower will be! Source: Three Ways to Teach Gratitude in the Classroom

thankful bitmoji room

Create a bitmoji bulletin board. You could call it a “board of thanks.” Encourage your students to express their appreciation by sharing things, people, places, events, etc. that they are thankful for. You can then “pin” these to the board to create a powerful visual for your students. Katania Trudeau creates thankful rooms for her classrooms. Check out her bitmoji templates here. In addition, be sure to check out Jeanine Mele’s virtual room focused on gratitude.

thankful tree

This collaborative activity allows students to list what they are thankful for by placing leaves on a tree. This Google Slide template was created by Madeline Martinez, who assigned one slide to each student in her class. She then created a Thankful ebook out of the slides. See Slide into the New Year with Student Ebooks

thank You notes

Thankful Thursdays have been a staple in a few classes for several years now at Francis Case Elementary in Box Elder. Aiming to teach the value of gratitude, 3rd and 2nd grade teachers, Kerry Waterson and Judy Badura, implemented a day for students to write thank you notes to people they were grateful for. Source: Francis Case Elementary makes national news with Thankful Thursdays

gratitude paper chain

Give each student one piece of colorful construction paper and have them cut it into strips to create a paper chain. Before creating the chain, have the students write what they’re thankful for on each strip of paper. Connect the strips of paper to create a classroom gratitude paper chain and hang the chain up in your classroom as a visual symbol of everything your students are grateful for.

gratitude scavenger hunt

This activity will send your little ones on a mission to capture photographs of their favorite things at home and in the yard. They’ll find that they don’t have to go far to discover items that bring them joy and happiness. Sample Scavenger Hunt

more activities

Want even more ideas on how to bring gratitude into the classroom? Here are some easy-to-implement activities, many of which can be adapted to fit any grade level.

GiveThx has a great open set of resources that focus on gratitude practices for educators and students.

videos that teach about gratitude

Here’s a list of heartwarming gratitude videos to watch with students to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. You’ll find videos for all age groups!

edtech podcast

schoolwide initiatives

online course

If you would like to explore additional Social and Emotional skills, be sure to check out TCEA’s online, self-paced Social and Emotional online course. Priced at just $29, the course features seven modules designed to help your students understand their own self-awareness, build positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and more. Enroll today!

Additional resources

Gratitude: A Powerful Tool in the Classroom - Edutopia

Helping Students Reflect and Act on Gratitude - Edutopia

Practice Gratitude in All Subjects - Common Sense Media

Gratitude Curriculum for Tweens and Teens - Greater Good

Movies That Inspire Gratitude - Common Sense Media

TV Shows That Inspire Gratitude - Common Sense Media

Page updated

Report abuse