WELLBEING- LESSON 3- 

GRATITUDE

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:CLEAR SPACE IN THE CLASSROOM (OR GO OUTSIDE) AND SEE HOW LONG STUDENTS CAN KEEP ALL THE BALLOONS OFF THE GROUND AS A TEAMALLOW STUDENTS 3 ATTEMPTS AT KEEPING ALL THE BALLOONS OFF THE GROUND FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND THEN ASK E…

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:

CLEAR SPACE IN THE CLASSROOM (OR GO OUTSIDE) AND SEE HOW LONG STUDENTS CAN KEEP ALL THE BALLOONS OFF THE GROUND AS A TEAM

ALLOW STUDENTS 3 ATTEMPTS AT KEEPING ALL THE BALLOONS OFF THE GROUND FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND THEN ASK EACH STUDENT TO HOLD ONTO A BALLOON (IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THEIR OWN)

ASK STUDENTS TO POP THE BALLOONS BY STOMPING ON THEM AND THEN ASK STUDENTS TO FIND THE LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER THAT WAS INSIDE THE BALLOON.

ASK STUDENTS TO STAND IN A CIRCLE AND TAKE TURNS SHARING WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THEIR PIECE OF PAPER. IF STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE TELLING THE CLASS THEY WROTE WHAT HAS BEEN READ OUT THEY CAN, OR THEY CAN STAY ANONYMOUS.

DEBRIEF: ALLOWING STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPOT THE GOOD STUFF AND SHARE IN GROUPS. HELPING STUDENTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THINGS THEY CAN BE GRATEFUL FOR AND A GOOD LINK IN TO THIS LESSON.

PART 1- (5 MINUTES)

Rationale

 

  • Few things in life are as important to our wellbeing as gratitude (Emmons, 2007).
  • Priming your brain to expect a favourable outcome, actually encodes your brain to recognise the outcome when it arises (Siefert & Patalano, 2001)
  • Gratitude correlates with goal attainment, high energy, positive moods, quality of sleep and more positive attitudes towards school and family (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners should:

  • understand what gratitude is and why it is important
  • identify things for which they are grateful
  • begin a gratitude journal

  

PART 2- LASER TAG- (10 MINUTES)

Teachers preview this activity to have some fun with your group. Or watch it all the way through for full instructions as a class. Change partners after 3 minutes, or arrange a game of elimination.

Debrief: In this activity, we are required to "laser in" on our partner's leg. In our lives, we may need a similar level of laser focus to identify the good things and be grateful. Being grateful is a helpful way for most people to improve their wellbeing, so let's turn our laser focus to gratitude in this lesson.

PART 3- WATCH AND DISCUSS- (10 MINUTES)

Record or discuss a few of the things that Hailey Bartholomew was grateful for during her 365 day journey. Do you notice how simple and common many of these things are?

PART 4- WATCH AND BRAINSTORM- (10 MINUTES)

We see mainly what we look for. What are you looking for?

In the next 90 seconds, write down as many things as you can that you are grateful for. They can be as simple or extravagant as you like.

Teacher notes: Sometimes, we find it easy to think of lots of things to be grateful for. At other times, we might struggle to come up with a few. It is useful to raise our awareness of the little things that we can appreciate that we often overlook. However, sometimes we might need some support. If there are students in the class that are genuinely struggling with this activity, let them know it is "OK" to not be able to list many things that they are currently grateful for. If particular students seem agitated by the activity, it is worth noting that and checking in with them, as they may need extra support. It might be that you could support a student by referring them to some of the mental health services available: https://www.australiacounselling.com.au/top-mental-health-organisations/, or the school counsellor.

PART 5- HOMEWORK - GRATITUDE JOURNAL

For the next 7 days, write down 3 things you are grateful for each night before you go to bed (or at another time each day that suits you). One form of gratitude encourages us to see things that we don't usually see, and appreciating them.