Activities, videos, and articles to help with the topic of gratitude at the junior level:
Heartfelt Gratitude
A simple activity that gets students thinking about what is important to them, their priorities and that for which they are grateful
Each student is given a blank heart which they cut out, and then separate into 10 sections by drawing lines. In each section, they write something that they are grateful for/ that is important to them. This is an individual activity to allow for greater focus and deeper thinking. While they decorate their hearts, encourage students to think about why they chose those particular items / people / human rights.
Gratitude Journals
Keep a gratitude journal; note how your attitude has changed over the course of time.
Thank You Notes
Write a thank you note to a friend, parent, teacher, bus driver, coach, expressing what you have appreciated about them.
Gratitude Videos and Resources to Use with your Students:
The Science of Gratitude
Research shows that an “attitude of gratitude” can measurably improve your overall well-being.
The Gratitude Experiment
This video discusses studies that have proven the benefits of gratitude and gives some experimental activities to test the theories.
Gratitude: A Short Film by Louie Schwartzberg
A beautiful and moving combination of words and imagery. Schwartzberg’s message to “open your heart and feel grateful for this day, the beauty of this planet, the people we meet” is a powerful one.
Research on the Benefits of a Gratitude Mindset:
