11_Gratitude 3-5

In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. —Brother David Steindl-Rast Gratitude At Home Resources Level: Upper Elementary (3-5) Concepts: • Coping Skills • Gratitude • Happiness Big Ideas For This Lesson Research shows that practicing gratitude results in benefits like increased happiness, reduced stress and depression, stronger relationships, and increased life satisfaction. In one study, scientists found that people who simply wrote down three things that they were grateful for everyday felt happier than people who did not. The science and the emotional experience behind the act of gratitude shows that giving thanks can make us feel happier. Expressing gratitude to others can also change our mood. Essential VocabularyGratitude: The act and attitude of giving thanks.Happiness: An emotional state of joy, satisfaction, and well-being.Mood: An emotional state that lasts longer than a single emotional response.© 2018 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 1 of 2 All rights reserved.

GRATITUDE | GRADES 3-5 PracticeWrite a thank you letter to someone. Practice saying why you are grateful for this person, and how they madeyou feel. Mail or give the letter to the person and write down in your journal how saying ‘thank you’ made youfeel. To write the thank you note begin with stating what you are grateful for (an experience, a gift, etc.) andwhy or how it made you feel. Then, add a hope.Example thank you note:Dear Ms. L,Thank you for being my teacher. I feel excited when I come to your class and am grateful for your help. I hopeyou enjoy the school year.Thank you,Example video Student Resources• How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Roth & Mary Reckmeyer (Grades K – 3).•• HT hoawnktos aWMritilelioanGbraytNitiukdkei GLeritmteers(L(Geraardneinsg3L–in5k)) by Greater Good Science Center• How to Write a Thank-You Letter (Informational Text) by Cecilia Minden & Kate Roth• Thanks a Million!: A Grade School Guide to Growing Gratitude by Lisa Q. Steinberg (Grades K – 5)• The Thank You Book for Kids: Hundreds of Creative, Cool, and Clever Ways to Say Thank You! by Ali Lauren Spizman (Grades 3 – 7) Adult Resources• Gratitude Revealed (Video) by Louie Schwartzberg• What Don’t We Know About Gratitude and Youth (Bblog) by Giacomo Bono• Gratitude: A Positive New Approach to Raising Thankful Kids (Book) by Danniell Miller• How to Upgrade Your Gratitude Practice (Blog) by Kira Newman• University of California, Berkeley Greater Good Science Center Resources on Gratitude (Website)© 2018 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 2 of 2 All rights reserved.