This post is made possible with support from Greater Good in Education website. All opinions are my own.
November is fast approaching along with school breaks. It is such a great time to talk about expressing gratitude. From the things students say to how they express their feelings in writing. Often times, Thanksgiving is shadowed by Historical events. A lack of the true understanding of friendship, gratitude and thankfulness. Enjoy this Expressing Gratitude activity thanks to the Greater Good in Education website.
I love the idea of bringing the Greater Good in the classroom. After searching around the Greater Good in Education website, I found this “Expressing Gratitude” activity to implement. They have a wide range of ideas, projects and practices any teacher would find useful.
For this exercise we decided to write down acts of gratitude, acts of kindness and compliments. Each one anonymous, to help everyone feel comfortable to share. Once they were written out we read them out loud and hung them on the classroom board. I was surprised what the students felt were kind acts and what they were grateful for. As an adult I always think of larger things but as kids they enjoy the simple things in life.
Here are a few that really struck me:
” I am thankful for my Mom. She does everything for me including taking me fun places and giving me hugs”.
” Someone gave a quarter for our Aldi shopping cart, that was kind”.
If you are in the education industry you might be overwhelmed with resources. I know I am at times. That is why when I find great places for classroom content I love to share them. The Greater Good in Education website is a collection of science‐based practices for integrating social‐emotional learning, mindfulness, and character education into the DNA of classrooms and schools.
Do you or your kids think deeply about a person’s intentions?
Does this encourage you to be kinder?
The quoted writings of the kids warms my heart. We take for granted just how grateful kids can be, if they're given the opportunity to acknowledge it.
Kids can be so grateful, can't they? They just need to be encouraged sometimes. Expressing gratitude with this activity is so awesome.
I think it's so important to promote and retain the grateful attitude that most kids have. I think life and growing up has a way of sapping the gratitude out of us at times.
Very nice idea! Such a great way to treat kids about gratitude. We can all express more gratitude this season and all year round. 🙂
Wow! I love this initiative! It sounds so amazing! I hope to take part on this.
We spend time in homeroom each morning working on social and emotional learning. It has helped develop a nicer culture in our room, for sure. I see it working.
There is nothing better than teaching our kids how to practice gratitude! It's wonderful!
It's so important to take time to be grateful for those around us. What a wonderful way to make the kids aware and grateful of the little things as well as the big things.