A guide for using our resources

Children will discover the benefits of gratitude and identify ways to show gratitude.

Vocabulary: gratitude, relax

Social and Life Skills Focus: self-awareness

CCSS and Similar State Standards: RL.1.1 key details; RF.1.2 phonemes; RF.1.3 decode words; W.1.1 writing; L.1.2 irregular words; SL.1.2 ask and answer questions

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• Each page of this book shares a new reason to be thankful. Encourage students to raise their hands and share if they are thankful for the same things!

• Tell students that the consonant blend gr- can be found at the beginning of some words in this issue! Have students hunt for words that start with this blend and circle them. For an added challenge, have students find words that have the blend br-.

Skill: writing, self-awareness

Materials: My Gratitude Journal, scissors, stapler, pencils, crayons

• Students can practice reflecting on what makes them thankful!
• Give each student a My Gratitude Journal skill sheet and a scissor. Have them cut out the pages in the skill sheet. As students finish cutting out the pages, have them order the pages so that the cover is on top. Staple the corner of each student’s journal.
• Students can write their name on the cover and decorate it. When all students have had a chance to add their illustrations, ask them to open up their journal to the first page and write today’s date. Use the prompts to fill out the first page of their gratitude journal.
• Let students know that they will revisit their gratitude journal two more times that week. Remind them to notice times during the week when they are feeling thankful! Have students place their journal in a safe space to revisit.