Expressing Gratitude

Expressing gratitude is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate caring to other individuals. Research also shows that expressing gratitude has the added benefit of raising our happiness levels, making us more productive and healthier, especially if we make gratitude a habit.

Grade Level: K-5

Character Skills

Caring

SEL Skills

Relationship Skills
Self-Awareness

Academic Skills

Diligent Learner

Definitions

Caring

Be compassionate.
Be considerate of others’ feelings.
Be kind.
Express gratitude.
Forgive others.

Self-Awareness

Identify and understand emotions, values, attitudes, motivations, mindsets, and personal attributes.

Relationship Skills

Interpersonal and social skills to guide appropriate behavior and create positive relationships and meaningful connections.

Diligent Learner

Have a growth mindset and be willing to learn from mistakes.

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This lesson exposes students to the research illustrating the benefits of gratitude, and suggests activities to help students develop a habit of expressing gratitude.

Materials

Video

Instructions

Start by showing students the video.
After watching the video, review the benefits of expressing gratitude with students. The long-term benefits of expressing gratitude are only felt if we make expressing gratitude a habit.
Invite students to participate in one (or several) gratitude habits.
- Gratitude Journal: Each day, students journal (art or text) about what they are grateful for from the previous 24 hours, and why they are grateful for that event, person, object, etc. You can also create a shared Google Document where students write their gratitudes each day for others to see (if desired and developmentally appropriate).
- Three Gratitudes: Ask students to share three things they are grateful for each day. Students can do this in groups, in a journal, as homework with their parents, etc.
- Random Act of Kindness: Each day students should spend two minutes writing an e-mail, or making a phone call praising or thanking someone for something they have done. Students may choose a friend, family member, teacher, etc.
  You can also do this in class. Each day, have students draw the name of another student in the class. Students then have a week to write down three things they appreciate about the person they drew. Students should be encouraged to look beyond, “I like your shoes,” or “Your notebook is pretty.” Instead, they should notice when their peer has contributed to the class, helped a classmate, or something more substantial. At the end of the week, collect the notes of appreciation and distribute them to the class. Students should not know who wrote about them.