💛 SELGrade 3Lesson 13
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Showing Gratitude to Others

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Name what you are grateful for using specific words
  • 2Explain why you are grateful by describing the impact
  • 3Describe a specific action you will take to show thanks
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Mini Lesson

Gratitude is the warm feeling you get when you recognize and appreciate something good in your life — a person who helped you, a kindness you received, or something that went well. Showing gratitude to others is more than just saying "thank you" — it means letting people know specifically what they did and why it mattered to you.

Why gratitude matters

  • It makes the other person feel valued and appreciated.
  • It strengthens your relationships — people are more likely to help again when they know it was noticed.
  • Practicing gratitude also benefits you — it trains your brain to notice the positive and improves your own mood and well-being.

The three-part gratitude sentence

  • I am grateful for… — name the person or thing you appreciate.
  • Because… — explain why it mattered or how it helped you.
  • I will show it by… — describe a specific action you will take to express your thanks.

Ways to show gratitude

  • Say it out loud: "Thank you for helping me — that really made a difference."
  • Write a note or letter describing exactly what they did and why it helped.
  • Do something kind in return — pay the kindness forward.
  • Simply notice and acknowledge the effort someone put in, even if the result was not perfect.
Three-part gratitude sentence frameThree connected boxes showing the gratitude sentence structure: Part 1 I am grateful for, naming the person or thing. Part 2 Because, explaining why it mattered. Part 3 I will show it by, describing a specific action.The Gratitude SentenceI am grateful for...Name the person or thing you appreciatee.g. "...my coach who stayed after practice."Because...Explain why it mattered or how it helpede.g. "...I finally understood the problem."I will show it by...Describe a specific action to express thankse.g. "...writing them a thank-you note today."
Three-part gratitude sentence frame — I am grateful for, Because, and I will show it by.
Four ways to show gratitudeFour boxes: Say it out loud with specific words, Write a note or letter, Do something kind in return, and Notice and acknowledge their effort.4 Ways to Show GratitudeSay it out loudUse specific wordsabout what they didWrite a noteDescribe exactly whathelped and whyDo something kindPay the kindness forwardNotice their effortAcknowledge what they tried
Four ways to show gratitude — Say it out loud, Write a note, Do something kind, and Notice their effort.
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Self-check: Who helped you recently? Can you complete all three parts of a gratitude sentence for them right now?

Vocabulary
Gratitude
A warm, thankful feeling for something good in your lifee.g. I felt gratitude for my friend's help.
Appreciate
To notice and value what someone has donee.g. I appreciate the time my grandma spent with me.
Thank-you note
A short written message that says why you are gratefule.g. I wrote a thank-you note to my coach.
Acknowledge
To say out loud that you noticed someone's efforte.g. I acknowledge how hard my sister worked.
Pay it forward
To do something kind for someone else after a kindness was done for youe.g. I pay it forward by helping a younger kid.
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