Practicing Gratitude: Activities for Elementary Students

Gratitude is a powerful social-emotional skill for students to learn. Plenty of research studies have shown that lessons on gratitude can have significant benefits. The more students reflect on and appreciate the good things in their life, the better equipped they’ll be to treat others with kindness, and to have a positive outlook.

While gratitude might seem like a simple concept in theory, it’s more than just being polite and saying “thank you.” To cultivate an attitude of gratitude, students need to practice it by spending time intentionally reflecting on a situation, and — in some cases — shifting their mindset from one of negativity to one of appreciation. 

If you’re looking for resources to teach students how to express gratitude towards others, and focus on the positives in their life, check out these activities and lessons for practicing gratitude with your class.

Resources for Practicing Gratitude in Class

From games to collaborative art projects, this list of gratitude activities for elementary students will help nurture this important social-emotional skill.

Choose Grateful Thoughts CBT Digital and Print Gratitude Activity Game by Whole Child Counseling
Not Grade Specific

Free Gratitude Poster for Social Emotional Learning by WholeHearted School Counseling
Not Grade Specific

Gratitude Brochure K-2 by The Counseling Teacher Brandy
Grades: K-2

Gratitude Tree Story & Collaborative Project • Art Lesson • Writing Activity by E by Expressive Monkey
Grades: 2-5

Positive Thinking Gratitude Activity for Improved Mindfulness and Self-Esteem by Root and Sprout Learning
Grades: 3-8

Resources for Teaching Gratitude Throughout the Seasons

While the Thanksgiving season offers a natural opportunity to teach students about thankfulness, you don’t have to limit your lessons on practicing gratitude to just the month of November. Here are some activities to help you teach this skill to elementary students at various points throughout the school year!

Gratitude Writing Prompts | Thanksgiving Writing Activity by Tanya G. Marshall The Butterfly Teacher
Not Grade Specific

Gratitude Lesson and Craft | Winter Snow Globe Activity by Carol Miller – Counseling Essentials
Not Grade Specific

100th Day of School Writing | Gratitude Journal by Shelly Rees
Grades: 4-7

Valentine’s Day Gratitude Love Bug | Craftivity & Writing | Social Emotional by Julia Erin
Grades: K-4

End of Year Thank You Notes | Notes of Gratitude by The Active Educator
Grades: PreK-5

Discover more ways to teach and practice gratitude with your students on TPT.