Choosing a Wide Perspective
Objective
- Students understand what gratitude is.
- Students use the Wheel of Gratitude to identify things they are grateful for.
SEL Competencies
Self-Awareness, Growth Mindset
Benefits
Regularly practicing an abundance of gratitude has benefits at the individual and societal level. It builds “feel good” neural pathways in the brain, which produces positive effects on our physical, mental, cognitive, and social health. Gratitude is often described as “social glue” in relationships, and it inspires people to be more generous, kind, and helpful (Allen, S., 2018). All of these things combined make us more motivated and capable to “do good”.
Core Concept
Practicing an abundance of gratitude in multiple spheres of our lives widens our perspectives and inspires us to be more generous, kind, and helpful.
Student Extension
Write a Gratitude Letter
- Self-Reflect & Brainstorm: Before the lesson begins, the teacher draws a large Wheel of Gratitude with the 3 concentric circles on the board. Teacher gives students examples of people and things we might be thankful for in each circle of the Wheel of Gratitude. Each student writes at least one thing in each circle (Body, Community, Mother Nature) they are grateful for on sticky notes and places on the Wheel of Gratitude. Once complete, have students pause, practice a breath and notice how everyone within the circles are connected.
- Engage in Service: Each student chooses a person to whom they want to write a letter of gratitude. Students reflect on the following questions to help them think of what they want to say in the letter: Why did you choose this person to thank? What are some words you would use to describe this person? How has this person made a positive difference in your life? How do the kind things this person does for you make you feel
- Students write a letter of gratitude on the page with the “Gratitude Letter” stamp. Students deliver, mail, or read aloud the letter to the person to whom it is addressed.
- Reflect on Service: After students share their letters, invite them to journal about the experience using these prompts: What did the person say or do when you shared the gratitude letter with them? How did it feel to share your letter with the person you chose? How do you think expressing gratitude regularly to this person might impact your relationship with them?
Optional Reflections
What did the person say or do when you shared the gratitude letter with them?
How did it feel to share your letter with the person you chose?
How do you think expressing gratitude regularly to this person might impact your relationship with them?