12th Grade The Power Of Gratitude Lesson Plan Example (Social Emotional Learning)

Topic: Gratitude

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify the benefits of expressing gratitude.
• Students will be able to practice expressing gratitude by writing a gratitude journal entry.

Materials

• Pencils
• Notebooks
• Guest speaker (optional)

Warm-Up

• Have students sit in a circle.
• Ask students to think of a time in their life when someone did something special for them, and someone whom they have never properly thanked.
• Have students share their experiences with the class, discussing the benefits of being grateful and how it can deepen relationships.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the topic of gratitude and its benefits. Provide handouts with research on the benefits of gratitude, and discuss the findings as a class.
• Explain the gratitude journaling exercise, and provide instructions and examples.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in pairs to complete a gratitude journaling exercise, with one person acting as the writer and the other as the "listener." The listener should provide support and encouragement as the writer expresses gratitude for a specific person, place, or thing.
• Afterward, bring the class together to share what they wrote and discuss the experience.

Independent Practice

• Assign a project in which students choose a person, place, or thing for which they would like to express gratitude, and create a visual representation of their gratitude (e.g. a drawing, collage, or written statement).
• Encourage students to share their project with the class and explain why they chose to express gratitude for the person, place, or thing they selected.

Closure

• Review the key concepts of the lesson, including the definitions of gratitude and appreciation, the benefits of expressing gratitude, and the importance of taking time to reflect on our blessings.
• Ask students to share one thing they are grateful for in the present moment.

Assessment

• Observe students during the guided and independent practice activities to see if they are able to effectively express gratitude and appreciation.
• Collect and review the gratitude letters written during independent practice to assess students' understanding of the concept of gratitude and their ability to express gratitude in writing.