Peculiar Elementary School Counseling

Lesson Plan
Lesson Title: The Thankful Tree
Grade Level: K-4
Big Idea:
PS 1 Understanding Self as an Individual and as a Member of Diverse Local
and Global Communities

Grade Level Expectations:

K - Identify character traits needed for different situations (gratitude)
1 -Recognizing personal characer traits (gratitude)
2 - Compare and contrast character traits needed for different situations
(gratitude)
3 - Identify the personal characteristics needed to contribute to the
classroom (gratitude)
4 - Identify personal characteristics that contribute to the school community
(gratitude)

ASCA National Standard:

PS:A1.2 Identify vauues, attitudes, and beliefs
PS:A1.5 Identify and express feelings.

Learning Objective:
K - 4th - I can identify what it means to have gratitude and provide examples
of things that I am thankful for.
K - 4th - I can show my gratitude to someone else.

Materials Needed:
Computer - Internet (The Thankful Book; Kid President's 25 Reasons to be
Thankful)

Formative Assessment (acceptable evidence):

Students will provide written information about what they are thankful for
and they will create something to give to someone to show their
gratitude.

Lesson Preparation:
Essential Questions:
K-4 - What does the word gratitude mean?
Engagement/Hook:
Students will watch a video about different things they can be thankful for.

Instructional Procedures:
Counselor(s):
1. Counselor will ask students to define the word gratitude.
2. Counselor will explain what gratitude means to all students (if the correct
definition is not given during the discussion)
3. Counselor will show students the video (The Thankful Book - K-2; Kid
President 3-4).
4. Counselor will show students the empty thankful tree that she has drawn
and will explain to students that they will help her fill the tree with thankful
leaves. Counselor will then give each student 6 leaves and will ask them to
write one thing they are thankful for on each leaf.
5. Counselor will encourage students to color and cut their leaves out once
they have finished writing their ideas on them.
6. Counselor will have students add their leaves to the tree once they have
cut them out.
7. Counselor will will have students create a thank you letter or card for
anyone they wish to show their gratitude for something they have done for
them.
Students:
1. Students will provide their thoughts about what the word gratitude means.

2. Students will listen as the counselor explains what it means to show and
have gratitude.
3. Students will watch the video about gratitude.
4. Students will listen as counselor provides them with the correct definition
along with examples.
5. Students will participate in the thankful tree activity by writing down one
thing they are thankful for on each leaf and then coloring them and cutting
them out.
6. Students will add their thankful leaves to the tree once they have cut
them out.
7. Students will create thank you cards and letters for anyone they would
like to show their gratitude for something they have done for them.