Are you looking to practice gratitude with your students? Use this activity to help students identify what they’re grateful for or not grateful for with this free sorting printable!
Introduce gratitude by having students sort pictures of people, places, experiences, and things into two categories: “Grateful” and “Not Grateful.” When sorting, use behavior-specific praise to acknowledge that “YES! You are grateful for the things you love that make you feel happy!”
Here’s what you’ll get:
* 24 premade sorting cards (includes real pictures with labels)
* Instructions on how to cut and fold the cards
Why you’ll love these sorting cards:
* The activity is easy to read and implement.
* You can use this resource as a standalone activity or as part of a comprehensive, science-based unit study.
* Proof Positive’s resources are and will always be free.
Ways to Use
- Incorporate into morning/end-of-the-day meetings
- Use as a brain break to help with transitions
- When your student needs a boost of positivity, grab their gratitude sorting cards to induce feelings of gratitude
- Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
- Families can use these at home, too!
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 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 have profound impacts on 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 gratitude resources?
* Explore the free What Went Well Unit Study which comes with 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!
★ Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center
