Gratitude Classroom Guidance Lesson
Title:
I am THANKFUL for...
Grade
Level: Second
Time:
Thirty Minutes
Objectives:
1.
Students will be able to explain the meaning of "gratitude".
2.
Students will be able to express what they are grateful for.
Materials:
"I am THANKFUL for..." handout, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Procedure:
-Ask
students what the previous month's character trait was (responsibility)
-Ask
them what holiday is at the end of this month (Thanksgiving)
-During
today's lesson we are going to be talking about being thankful and grateful
-Have
you ever heard the word, "gratitude"?
-What
does gratitude mean?
-Show them the definition of "gratitude"
-I
am going to read you the book, Chrysanthemum.
Raise your hand if you have read this book before.
-Raise
your hand if you can tell me some rules you are supposed to follow when there is a
reader in your classroom.
-While
I'm reading Chrysanthemum, I want you to listen to see if you can figure out
what Chrysanthemum is grateful for.
-Read
the book.
-What
was Chrysanthemum grateful for? (her name)
-Did
she always appreciate it? (no)
-Just
like Chrysanthemum, we don't always appreciate the things we should, sometimes
it takes a while for us to truly be grateful for things.
-Ex.
You might not always be grateful for your family, the may get on your
nerves one day. Then, you might
finally realize that you need them and love them, and therefore you become
grateful and thankful that you have them.
-What
are some things you all are thankful for? (write a list on the board)
-Chrysanthemum
was grateful for her name. We are
going to do an activity with our names. Who
has ever written an acrostic poem?
-We
are going to write acrostic poems with our names. (show the example)
-Take
each letter in your name and think of a word, or a couple words that will
describe something you are thankful for.
-Give
each student an "I am THANKFUL for" handout.
-As
they work on their acrostic poems, walk around and help and encourage them.
-If
time permits, have a few student volunteers share their poems with the class.
