Family and Homeschool Activities for Teaching Gratitude
Grade Levels: K-3
These family and homeschool activities are designed to complement the Gratitude topic page on BrainPOP Jr.
Notice, Think, Feel, and Do
Let your child know that we can bring gratitude to our lives and to others through following a series of four simple steps. Gratitude involves:
- What we NOTICE in our lives for which we can be grateful
- How we THINK about why we have been given those things
- How we FEEL about the things we have been given
- What we DO to express appreciation in turn
Talk about each of the steps with your child. You can begin by sharing your responses to each of the first three steps–what you notice, think, and feel about something in your life. Then ask your child to respond to each. Finally, brainstorm ways to express appreciation and pass the gratitude on. These may include simply saying thank you, making a drawing to express gratitude for something, or planning a treat or visit to someone for whom you feel grateful.
Establish a Gratitude Ritual
In North America, many families spend some time on Thanksgiving expressing what they are thankful for—but that’s only once a year. Ask your child what kind of gratitude ritual you might follow together. Perhaps you can tell each other one thing you’re grateful for each morning, or you can slip each other a note one time during the day stating something you appreciate about them.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Practicing gratitude has so many benefits, including making people happy. Help your child start a gratitude journal for writing and/or drawing about what they are grateful for in their lives. A journal can be anything from a real notebook or papers stapled together. No need to be fancy! Encourage your child to make daily or weekly entries and help them add a date to each one. It will be fun to review the journal over time and see what’s changed and what’s stayed the same.
