Class Gratitude Jar

Activity Objectives

Students will participate in a week-long challenge to notice, document, and share the good things in their life, like a kind act, special experience, or place that brings them joy
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Afterward, students will reflect on their experience and how they can be a better friend to their classmates
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This activity supports the development of the following social-emotional skills: social awareness and relationship skills.

Document

‍Read the book My Gratitude Jar by Kristen Wiens and lead a discussion about the importance of pausing to reflect on the different things, big and small, that make us feel grateful.

Over the course of one week, ask students to take time throughout each day to reflect and document when they feel grateful for something. This can be anything, from something kind someone did for them, a special object or experience, or a beautiful place that brings them joy! These moments of gratitude should be documented on notecards and placed in a class gratitude jar at the front of the class, or added to a digital board using a tool like Padlet.

After the challenge has been completed, gather students in a "gratitude gathering", and read the notes in the jar to recognize and celebrate your students’ moments of gratitude! During this time, encourage students to give others a shout-out for any particularly kind actions that they took.

Reflect

‍Guide students through a post-activity reflection by asking the following questions:

What were some things that you were grateful for?
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Did noticing these moments of gratitude change your behavior or feelings in any way?
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What were your classmates grateful for? What did you learn about them based on what they shared?
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How can this knowledge help you be a better friend to them?