A guide for using our resources

Children will explore things they can be thankful for through a book of opposites.

Social Studies Focus: Thanksgiving

Social and Life Skills Focus: gratitude

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• In simple but poetic language, this cozy book reminds us of all the simple things we have to be thankful for.

• Invite children to practice everyday gratitude with this fun scavenger hunt skill sheet!

• Movement is a fun way to make vocabulary “stick.” Reinforce opposite pairs by acting them out! Here are a few ideas to get you started.
  
  • Lift your leg high.
    Lift your leg low.
    
  • Put your arms up.
    Put your arms down.
    
  • Run in place fast.
    Walk in place slow.
    
  • Take a small step.
    Take a big step.
    
  • Make a happy face.
    Make a sad face.
    
  • Pretend you are hot.
    Pretend you are cold.

Skill: writing and drawing

Materials: empty tissue box, tempera paint, small pieces of paper, markers and colored pencils

• Begin by guiding students as they decorate a recycled tissue box. Have groups of two or three students decorate a box. You can decorate multiple boxes and place them throughout your classroomand school community.
• Put a small stack of paper next to the gratitude box, along with a few colored pencils and markers.
• Encourage students to take a few minutes each day to draw a picture of someone or something in school that they are grateful for.
• At the end of each day, bring the gratitude box(es) to the meeting area and read the notes of gratitude with your class. Ask the author of each note to share their inspiration. Who or what are they grateful for? Why did they create the note of gratitude? How does showing gratitude make them feel?