3.3 Gratitude Wall
Domain: Positive Relationships
Module: Gratitude
Go on a savouring walk. Take photos of the things that inspire gratitude, and then share them.
DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME
Understands and appreciates the reciprocal effect of expressing gratitude, and the personal benefits of savouring
LEARNING INTENTIONS
Express gratitude for the good things around them
Experience the benefits of savouring
ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES
‘Leaderless Discussion’ responses
Contributions to the ‘Gratitude Wall’
‘So What? Now What?’ reflections
RESOURCES
Audiovisual equipment
Paper and pens
MINDFUL MOMENT
BRAIN BREAK
STRATEGIES AND QUESTIONS
Optional: Play ‘Thank you’ by Kehlani as students enter the room, or use it as a lesson transition.
INTRODUCTION – WHERE THE LESSON IS GOING AND WHAT IS EXPECTED
Big questions: What are we learning about? Why?
Introduce the learning intentions and contextualise the lesson for your class.
ACTIVITY 1 – SAYING THANKS
Watch the following clip: ‘Watch kids prank favorite teacher all to set up heartfelt surprise – Video’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lxFkYmLTHk (5:57).
Engage in a ‘Review and Rip’ activity using the following questions:
1.Does showing gratitude benefit the recipient more than the initiator? ‘What makes you say that?’
2. In what ways can savouring or reflecting on gratitude improve your wellbeing?
3. How can showing gratitude change your attitude?
4. Why does gratitude help you to flourish?
Success criteria: Listen carefully, take turns talking
ACTIVITY 2 – LEADERLESS DISCUSSION
Discuss the words: ‘materialistic’, ‘languish’, ‘grateful’ and ‘flourish’, to ensure students have a common understanding of key terms.
Display the following quote and engage in a ‘Leaderless Discussion’: ‘Materialistic youth seem to be languishing while grateful youth seem to be flourishing.’ Froh, Emmons, Card, Bono & Wilson, (2011).
Success criteria: Listen carefully, take turns talking
ACTIVITY 3 – GRATITUDE WALL
Students work in groups to brainstorm ideas for creating a Gratitude Wall. This could be created in a display case in the playground or in a classroom. Ideas could include: a collection of ‘What Went Wells’, annotated photos, inspirational quotes, gratitude memes, etc. Students could create items for the wall as homework over the following week and the display itself could be created in a subsequent lesson.
‘60-Second Think’: In what ways is creating a ‘Gratitude Wall’ a form of savouring?
Visit each group, giving feedback, guidance and encouragement as needed. Students from different classes could reflect on what they have learnt from viewing other classes’ Gratitude Walls.
TIP: If needed, extra time could be created for this activity by not engaging in Activity 2.
Success criteria: Be creative, be genuine, be honest
REFLECTION – RETHINKING AND REVISING
Big Ideas: What have I learnt about gratitude and savouring?
Students engage in a ‘So What? Now What?’ reflection.
Success criteria: Think carefully, be honest
