I Am Thankful For You
Sep 20 '00 (Updated Oct 15 '00)
Thanksgiving will soon be upon us.. I hope that you'll take time this year to reflect on your many blessings and how wonderful it truly is just to be alive. Each year, I do an activity with my sixth grade students to help them take notice of the good things about the people around them; maybe you can adapt this to use in your own home or with family and friends during the next few weeks.
First of all, my kids choose a piece of fall-colored (red, yellow, orange, or brown) construction paper and write (with a black permanent marker) at the top: "I Am Thankful For ________ (insert their own name) Because..." I make one too; this is something I look forward to each year.
I set a kitchen timer for one minute and have the students pass their papers to the person behind them. They are instructed to write (in ink) one specific nice thing about the person whose paper they have. It can't be "He's nice" or "She's cool". It has to pinpoint something like "..they helped me open my locker the first week of school when I couldn't." Or, "..they've made me laugh on days when I don't feel so good." It takes a few minutes for them to get into the groove; but the memories start flowing once they get started and they can't wait to write on the next paper.
As we pass each paper in a continuous circle (I arrange my desk in a circular pattern just for this day), the kids' anticipation of getting their own back to read grows. They can't wait to see what people have written about them. Of course, I just add to it by making faces, giggling mischievously and saying "Oooooo! I have something GOOD for this one!" That drives them nuts.
When they do get those papers back, though, a hush falls around the room. I sit back and watch their faces closely.. they read and smile, laugh, and read some again.. and even try to hide a tear or two that tends to slip out unexpectedly. They absolutely cherish those papers.
You wouldn't believe the comments I get after the activity. One child even said.. "I didn't know Hunter even liked me! He said the nicest things!" Now, three years after I did this for the first time, I still have former students come to me and say, "I still have my 'I am thankful for' paper. I read it all the time.. it's almost torn in half."
Do I still have my papers? You better believe it. They're all stored together, and worn from reading. It's nice to be reminded that people really do appreciate you.. perhaps we should try to make it more of a daily thing instead of a yearly one. Try telling someone today that you're thankful for them.. but don't forget to tell them why.
Thanks for reading!
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Epinions.com ID:
Teach2755
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Member: Lisa
Location: Jonesboro, AR
Reviews written: 95
Trusted by: 54 members
About Me:
I'm a half-crazed sixth grade teacher who's ready for summer. Enough said. :)
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