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 3 circles on the board. Label one circle “Body”, one circle “Community”, and one circle “Mother Nature”. Teacher shows students the worksheet with examples of people and things we might be thankful for. Teacher asks each student to name at least one thing they are grateful for. Teacher writes them on the Wheel of Gratitude circles. Once complete, have students pause, practice a breath and notice how everyone within the circles are connected.
- Engage in Service: Teacher shows students an example of a gratitude letter. Using the template provided, students write/draw a gratitude letter to the one thing/person they are thankful for.
- Ask students to draw or write their answers to these questions in the letter: Why are you thankful for this thing or person? How does the thing or person you are thankful for make you feel
- Students deliver the letter to the person/thing or share them aloud.
- Reflect on Service: After students share their letters, engage in a discussion using this prompt: How did it feel to express gratitude to the person or thing you chose?
Optional Reflection
Prompt for a class discussion:
How did it feel to express gratitude to the person or thing you chose?