Gratitude
Reception: I can identify lots of things to be grateful for in my life.
Core Story
The THANKFUL book by Todd Parr. Also available here is a story that explores 20 illustrated examples of things to be thankful for and why. From my hair – which makes me unique, to feet - which help me run and play, to autumn - when I can jump in the leaves.
Activity 1: Reflection
Ask the children to close their eyes and think about all the things they’re grateful for and why. It might be a person, a time of the week, a thing, a time of year, a place, a type of food. Then ask them to share with their perfect partner, in a full sentence that includes a ‘because’, before making a circle and sharing as a class. Whoever is speaking should hold a special item, such as a ‘special box’. Only the pupil holding the special box may speak. This makes it clear whose turn it is to speak. When they have finished, they hand the special object to the person next to them. The PowerPoint R Gratitude contains pictures of prompt from the story, that may help the children to come up with ideas.
Activity 2: Gratitude display
Pupils draw pictures of something they are grateful for and would like to say ‘thank you’ for. Pupils could also label these pictures or write a short sentence about their drawing. These pictures could be used to create a ‘gratitude display’ in the classroom, perhaps forming the leaves on a tree.
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Classroom language
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Sayings
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Well done, I like the way you said thank you to that person for doing something kind for you. That showed them how grateful you are.
Remember we always show our gratitude by saying thank you for the kind things people do for us.
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Counting your blessings
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Library books
The Awesome Book of Thanks by Clayton Dallas
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
Heart of Gold: A Jakata Tale, Dharma Publishing
A Christmas Carol and Other Favourites by Jim Weiss
Sausages by Jessica Souhami
Zoo Girl by Rebecca Elliott
Boy by James Mayhew
Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney
Kicking a Ball by Allan Ahlberg
The Dog with the Piece of Meat, Aesop’s Fable