November is always such a strange amalgam and while things can get difficult chugging along until Thanksgiving break, it is the perfect time to infuse gratitude activities for students.
Everyone is tired in November – very, very tired. You haven’t had a real break since August and you’ve been clinging to the glimmer of Thanksgiving since the end of September. We’ve all been there.
Enter November. The air gets crisp, the leaves become beautiful, and you’re reminded that even though your body is aching for rest, there is so much room for gratitude every day. This time of the year reminds us that not only do we need to be grateful for what we have personally, but our classrooms probably need a little infusion of gratitude as well. Here is a roundup of ideas to bring just a little bit of thanks to your school life.
Create a Gratitude Wall
Have a bulletin board or blank black/white board that can use some love? Create a Gratitude Wall! Have students use post-it’s to write things they are grateful for or allow them to scribble graffiti-style. The constant reminder of things they are grateful for is sure to give your classroom culture a little boost. Below is a student-created example.
Gratitude Journals
I love the idea of using bellringer time for a gratitude journal. You could get a pretty one like this from Amazon, but you don’t have to. A dollar store composition notebook or even a sheet of paper works just as well!
Make a Gratitude Banner
I’m a big fan of the pennant-style buntings because they serve two purposes. They boost classroom culture because students can share the contents and they also double as inexpensive classroom décor. I use them seasonally in my own classroom and always link them in my store. Click here to see the banner I use in my own classroom!
Write Letters of Gratitude
A few years ago, I started using the day before break to have my students write letters to people they are grateful for. As an ELA teacher, this helped me hit the standards by practicing routine writing, but it also allowed the students to stop and reflect on those in which they are most grateful. I created an easy template for my students, so if you’re interested in checking it out, click here.
Create a Gratitude Video
If you’re looking to infuse more 21st century skills into your classroom, creating a gratitude video is a great option. Use a program like Canva to have students create videos of things they’re grateful for. A great day before break activity would be to bring in snacks and share the videos!
Looking for more gratitude activities?
Here are some other resources to help cultivate your classroom of gratitude!
- Teaching & Learning Gratitude: Book Suggestions for Thankfulness
- We Teach So Hard! Podcast – Attitudes of Gratitude
- 5 Ways to Help Students Show Thankfulness in the Classroom
- Teaching Students the Value of Gratitude
I hope these resources help spark some inspiration for you to infuse a little gratitude into your own classroom this season. Tell me– which idea are you most looking forward to trying?
Happy teaching!
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