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🦃 Week 11: Thanksgiving Gratitude

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 3-4
Duration 40 minutes
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus M (Math - Data), R (Religion), A (Arts)

Week 11: Thanksgiving Gratitude

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Collect and organize gratitude data 2. Create data visualizations (graphs/charts) 3. Analyze and interpret data 4. Present findings clearly

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Practice gratitude as spiritual discipline 2. Recognize God's blessings 3. Share thanksgiving with others

Week 11: Thanksgiving Gratitude

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Gratitude as Prayer — Thanksgiving is more than a holiday — it's a way of life! The Catechism teaches that every blessing calls for gratitude. When we count our blessings, we recognize God's goodness.

Scripture Connection

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Saint Connection

St. Mary Faustina Kowalska — Known for Divine Mercy, St. Faustina also practiced deep gratitude. She wrote in her diary about thanking God for everything — even difficulties. Gratitude transforms our hearts!

📚 Materials Needed

  • Gratitude survey sheets

  • Graph paper or graphing templates

  • Colored pencils/markers

  • Poster paper for class data

  • Calculator (optional)

  • Chart examples

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Thank You, Lord, for everything! Help us see all the blessings in our lives, big and small. Open our eyes to Your goodness. St. Mary Faustina, pray for grateful hearts! Amen."

The Science of Gratitude (5 min)

Did you know?

Research shows gratitude:

  • Makes us happier

  • Improves health

  • Strengthens relationships

  • Helps us sleep better

  • Reduces stress

"Scientists study gratitude! They collect DATA about thankfulness!"

St. Faustina connection:

  • Wrote a gratitude diary

  • Thanked God daily

  • Found joy even in hard times

  • "First gratitude, then asking"

Gratitude Data Collection (10 min)

Personal survey:

Count your blessings — literally!

Categories: 1. People — How many people are you thankful for? 2. Places — How many places are you grateful for? 3. Things — How many things are you thankful for? 4. Experiences — How many experiences are you grateful for? 5. Faith — How many faith-related blessings?

Instructions:

  • List items in each category (3 min per category)

  • Count totals

  • Be specific! Not just "family" but individual names

Data recording: | Category | Items Listed | Total Count | |----------|-------------|-------------| | People | | | | Places | | | | Things | | | | Experiences | | | | Faith | | |

Class Data Compilation (5 min)

Combine everyone's data:

Share totals:

  • Go around room, share category totals

  • Record on class chart

  • Calculate class totals

Create class statistics:

  • Total blessings counted by whole class

  • Average per student

  • Which category had most?

  • Which had least?

Data Visualization (12 min)

Create gratitude graphs:

Option A: Personal Bar Graph

  • X-axis: Categories

  • Y-axis: Number of items

  • Color each bar differently

Option B: Class Pie Chart

  • Show percentage in each category

  • Use colors to distinguish

  • Label clearly

Option C: Pictograph

  • Use symbols (hearts, stars)

  • Each symbol = certain number

  • Include key

While creating:

  • Accurate scale

  • Clear labels

  • Title your graph

  • Make it neat!

Reflection & Sharing (4 min)

Analyze your data:

  • What category had the most?

  • What category surprised you?

  • What did you forget to include?

  • How did counting change your feelings?

Share discoveries:

  • "What did you learn about yourself?"

  • "Did counting blessings change anything?"

Faith connection:

  • "When we count blessings, we see God's generosity"

  • "Gratitude is a habit we can practice"

  • "The more we look, the more we find!"

Closing (2 min)

Challenge: "This week, keep a gratitude list. Add 3 things each day!"

Journal entry:

  • Tape or draw your graph

  • Write: "I am most thankful for..."

  • Write: "Counting blessings made me feel..."

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for [class total] blessings in our room today! Thank You for showing us how rich we are in Your love. Help us be grateful people every day, not just at Thanksgiving. We praise You for Your endless goodness! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We explored the science of gratitude today! Ask your child to share their gratitude graph and tell you what they discovered. Start a family gratitude practice — maybe a thankful jar or nightly sharing of three blessings. Research shows gratitude makes families happier!"

✅ Assessment

  • Collected accurate gratitude data

  • Created clear data visualization

  • Participated in class data compilation

  • Reflected on gratitude practice

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **