About This Lesson
Gratitude is more than a holiday activity—it is a lifelong wellbeing skill that helps students build positive emotions, strengthen relationships, and develop resilience. The Gratitude for Classrooms Year-Round Bundle provides engaging, autism-friendly activities that help students practice gratitude throughout the entire school year.
From writing meaningful gratitude letters and participating in scavenger hunts to creating classroom displays and reflecting on personal growth, students learn how appreciation can improve wellbeing and strengthen connections with others.
This comprehensive bundle supports social-emotional learning while creating opportunities for kindness, reflection, and community-building in classrooms, counseling groups, inclusion settings, and homeschool environments.
Here's what you'll get
• Gratitude Letters/Printable Worksheet/SEL
• Gratitude Bulletin Board Activity for Special Education & SEL
• Gratitude Scavenger Hunt Activities for Thanksgiving | SEL
• End of Year Activities: Gratitude Reflection Canva Template for Students & Staff
• Teacher implementation suggestions
• Access to additional wellbeing lesson plans and resources
Why you'll love this activity bundle
• Promotes positive emotions year-round
• Encourages meaningful reflection and self-awareness
• Strengthens classroom community and relationships
• Supports SEL and character development goals
• Flexible for seasonal celebrations and everyday use
• Designed to support diverse learners, including students with autism
Ways to use
• Morning meetings and advisory periods
• SEL and character education lessons
• Thanksgiving and holiday activities
• End-of-year reflection projects
• Counseling groups and social skills instruction
• Family engagement events
• Classroom community-building activities
What is Gratitude?
Has anyone ever told you to “be grateful for what you have” or “count your blessings?” Maybe your parents or grandparents reminded you to pay attention to the good things in life, frequently say thank you, and appreciate what you have. As a teacher, you may have told your students, “Focus on your successes.” Here, we present a case of science catching up to the old adage.
The gratitude skill - What Went Well - helps you and your students begin to counteract the negativity bias and strike a balance in what you focus on each day. By developing a consistent gratitude practice, we can transform how we see the world. It has long been said that it is not happiness that brings us gratitude; rather, it is gratitude that brings us happiness.
Science of Gratitude
Research shows that practicing What Went Well can profoundly impact individuals and groups. It turns out that the advice to focus on the good things each day has many benefits, ranging from physical health to mental wellbeing. People who practice gratitude:
- Are happier, healthier, and live longer
- Are more optimistic and hopeful
- Fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer
- Exercise more frequently and have better cardiovascular health
- Have stronger relationships and increased social support
- Find greater meaning in their work
- Perform better and achieve at higher levels
- Are less depressed and anxious
Looking for more SEL resources?
- Explore the free full lesson plans and unit studies on happiness skills at our Skill Center. All units include teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Proof Positive’s resources are and will always be free. Be well!
