Throughout November, the fifth grade classrooms of teachers Grace Dalton, Mallory LeCount, and Moira Gray learned about the importance of gratitude through a Gratitude Challenge. Projects included writing holiday letters to troops, recognizing important role models in the students’ lives and keeping a thankful journal. Each month, a Life Skills Assembly is held for all CH-S fourth and fifth students and this month’s focus was on showing gratitude.
“This project really teaches the students how much they truly have to be grateful for,” said Gray. “It is so important for us to stop and think of all the small things we have that we take for granted while others may think of these small things as a luxury. By the end of this project, our goal is to give our students a deeper sense of compassion and gratitude in their everyday life.”
Student were provided with gratitude ”tokens” that they could hand to someone they felt grateful for. “The token could go to anyone,” said Dalton. “It could be a student or teacher who helped them, a family member or someone who has significantly impacted their life.” On Monday, November 23 each fifth grade student was paired with a fourth grade student to reflect on who received their tokens. Students discussed experiences where they expressed gratitude to someone in their life. The fifth grade students also used their Ipads to create short movies of their conversation.
“We see the fourth graders get excited about being in the fifth grade after projects like these,” said Dalton. “They look up to the fifth graders, see them as examples and even get help with their Ipads.”
Students were asked to consider gratitude every day with entries in their gratitude journals. “Prompts included writing about a person they were thankful for, what they love about themselves, and special opportunities that they have been given,” Dalton explained.
This is the second year of the Life Skills Assemblies and the focus on gratitude. “Last year after these projects we noticed there was a change in the culture of our fifth grade students,” Dalton said. “We just saw a lot more positive energy and kindness being shown. It was contagious.” Examples were notes of thanks to teachers and vocalization of gratitude toward each other.
“I really appreciate my dad and my friends,” remarked 5th grade student, Ryan Langston. “I am grateful for the help and support my dad gives me in football. It makes it more fun and helps me work harder. And I am grateful for my friends who play with me at recess and who help me on class projects.” Langston added that through these activities he has learned that everyone should be grateful for the people who care for them.
To celebrate and put into practice some of the ideas they have been exploring, the students planned and held a Gratitude Feast on Tuesday, November 24. “The students made place cards, place mats and table decorations,” said Dalton. “The lunch also centered on proper dining etiquette, with each class completing lessons in table etiquette and manners. Students got to dress up and practice what they learned about how to act while enjoying a fine dining experience.”
