Gratitude activities can and should be used any time of year, whether it’s a Thanksgiving activity or not. I’m sharing some of my favorite gratitude activities for the classroom as well as a freebie to get you started.
10 Gratitude Activities for the Classroom
1. Gratitude Journals
Keeps this simple and low stress. Create 1/2 page journals for students with a cover that relates to the season or topic. The page 1/2 page size reduces writing anxiety because students are not looking at a blank page, worrying about filling it. Find a versatile gratitude journal & activities here. It includes gratitude journal questions, and It’s ready to use. Includes 2 cover options.
2. Gratitude Jars Make Ideal Gratitude Activities
Using either a real jar or a paper image of a jar, this simple activity is a quick way to remind students on a daily basis of all that we have to be grateful for. A real gratitude jar can be decorated. Have a basket of paper slips on hand for students to grab and write on. Then, these slips go into the jar. At the end of the day or week, read some or all of the slips. A paper gratitude jar version can be glued into a notebook or clipped into a binder and then filled out each day. These make great displays and can be taken home.
3. Gratitude List Ideas
Don’t forget to provide gratitude list ideas to students who may need a nudge. Listing options for the things we can be grateful for helps remind students of topics for their journal or slips for the Gratitude Jar. These are also great to take home to families or have students pick the top 10 to focus on for the month. Find a free list of ideas here.
4. Teaching Gratitude Activities With a Read Aloud
Select several books to read during the time period before you introduce journaling or during the process. Read this blog post fill with 10 books about gratitude. It’s broken down by grade and age level. A few good options are Fish in a Tree and Bear Says Thanks. Find a free list of books for teaching gratitude here.
5. Random Acts of Kindness
Show gratitude through small, helpful gestures. This is a perfect discussion topic for the class and then create a list that’s great for keeping up in the classroom. Whether it’s opening the door for someone, picking up a pencil another student dropped, saying hello to someone who’s not a friend, etc. It really is endless and so simple.
6. Say Please and Thank You
This may seem old school, but there’s never been a better time to reteach manners. Manners express gratitude, which makes others feel good. It’s a win-win! Read this blog post for even more ideas for gratitude activities in the classroom. Read this blog post with even more gratitude ideas for the classroom.
7. Write Thank You Notes As Easy Gratitude Activities
This is a perfect end-of-the-day activity or even for morning work. Have note cards pre-cut. Light-colored construction paper works well. Make sure to have a list of reasons to say thank you to another person. This helps support students who may require more think time or just more time. Project this when you need it. Soon, you’ll find that students will start recognizing many opportunities to thank someone.
8. Gratitude Leaves and Trees
Create a paper gratitude tree in the classroom, cafeteria, office, or library. Have leaves ready for writing on, coloring, and cutting. I guarantee the cafeteria, office, or library staff will LOVE having this in their workspace.
9. Express Gratitude at Snack & Meal Times
Ask students to stop before opening their snack or before taking a bite of their meal. Think about the fact that they have food right there, ready for them. Show them what it’s like to take 10 seconds to appreciate what’s in front of you. If someone made it for you, be sure to say thank you and even compliment the chef. This is an easy action, and it’s a wonderful lifelong habit.
10. Share Pictures of Other Countries/People
One of the best ways for students to gain perspective is to learn about what life is like for others or was like for others in the past. I like finding pictures of students from around the world getting to school. When your class sees students crossing a river on a rope that’s strung above just to get to school or when they read about students having to walk a long distance or having a home that’s so far away from a school that a student needs to live at the school, I guarantee that kids gain perspective.
Have students compare their mode of transportation to the students in the pictures you’ve found.
There are so many gratitude activities you can use with students. You probably even use some because it’s almost second nature for teachers to encourage gratitude. Make a list of what works for you to look at once a month so you can plan a few 5 minute activities!
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