Gratitude Journaling is Great for Kids Too!

Did you know that practicing gratitude and taking time for reflection can have a huge positive impact on a person’s mental health? Many adults keep gratitude lists or journals as a self-care tool, but we often forget that young people need to develop this important habit as well. That’s where this resource comes in! With 50 gratitude journal prompts for students, you can make your classroom a happier and more peaceful place! This year, w encourage you to help your students improve their writing skills and support their mental health and wellbeing with daily gratitude journaling.

Using Your Gratitude Journal Prompts in Class

Gratitude journaling can be a wonderful tool to implement in an elementary classroom. This practice encourages students to reflect on their day and identify things they are grateful for. To introduce this activity, provide students with a notebook and allocate a few minutes at the end of each day for journaling. Instruct them to read the prompt (or read it aloud) and write as much as they can during the allotted time. The prompts may relate to something they learned, something that made them happy, or even something that challenged them. This habit not only helps students appreciate the positive things in life, but also encourages mental wellbeing.

Use this teaching resource as a part of your class’ daily gratitude practice or as a stand-alone activity to help increase positivity, mindfulness, and to encourage a growth mindset.

This slide deck includes 50 unique writing prompts focusing on positivity and gratitude to help your students develop their reflective writing skills. We have also included an inspirational daily quote to help encourage reflection and discussion in the classroom.

Download Your Gratitude Prompts for Kids Slide Deck

This downloadable teaching resource is available as an Interactive Google Slides Activity. To get your new resource, click the download button. You will be prompted to make your own copy. From there, project the slides on your screen and start playing today!

This resource was created by Liz Whitaker, a teacher in South Carolina and Teach Starter Collaborator.

Even More Ideas for Teaching Gratitude!

Need more ideas for gratitude lessons in your classroom? Make sure you check these out before you go!

teaching resource

Gratitude Tree and Leaves Template

Create a "Gratitude Tree" display with a printable tree and individual leaf cutouts.

teaching resource

ABC's of Gratefulness - A to Z Gratitude List

Make a list of things to be grateful for with a printable A to Z gratitude list template.

teaching resource

Words of Gratitude-Thanksgiving Message Cards

Help your students words of gratitude for teachers with set of printable thankful message cards.