Skill Level
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Learner Outcomes
- Understand and experience the linkage between gratitude and community formation.
- Share feelings of appreciation.
- Experience the sense of belonging generated when gratitude and kindness are centered.
Life Skills
Service learning, communications, cooperation, social skills, conflict resolution, accepting differences, concern for others, empathy, sharing, nurturing relationships, teamwork, character
Time Needed
5-10 minutes
Materials List
None
Space
A space in which group members can see everyone else in the group’s faces
Introduction
This activity creates a space for people to develop and embrace gratitude. Cultivating awareness and gratitude centers us. This activity can uplift the strengths of the group and help to build community. Extending kindness to others helps us remember to be kind to ourselves. Gratitude circles can be done each time the group meets in the beginning, middle, or at the end of the meeting.
Vocabulary
Gratitude: appreciation, the feeling of being thankful
Before the Activity
Gratitude circles create space in which one can share for whom and what they are grateful. This is a space to offer shout-outs to others. Others can be members of the group or expand beyond the group including people, places, and things. Prior to starting a gratitude circle, establish whether gratitude should be focused within the group or expand beyond the group.
Activity
Opening Questions
Choose questions suitable for the group, if appropriate pose the question to set the tone and do not seek an answer.
- What are we thankful for?
- How do we show gratitude?
- What words come to mind when you hear the word community?
- Why might these questions be important for a group such as ours to consider?
Experience
- Have group members gather in a circle, taking care that everybody can see everyone else.
- Explain this is a space in which one can share for whom and what they are grateful. This is a space to offer shout-outs to others. Define gratitude as a group. Establish whether gratitude should be focused within the group or expand beyond the group.
- As you begin the gratitude circle, you might notice that some experience discomfort since this is not always typical of how we engage with others. You can watch body language to determine how this is being received. If young people squirm, glance at one another, giggle, and seem to manifest discomfort in this way, you may want to acknowledge this – “this might feel a little uncomfortable at first. Simply make note of that and please continue.”
- Keep the gratitude circle going for as long as necessary. Do not pressure group members to share, lean into a few moments of silence as needed.
Reflection Questions (choose one or a few that work best for your group)
- How did it feel to consider what you are grateful for?
- How did it feel to give shout-outs? Receive shout-outs?
- What ways can we incorporate gratitude into our daily lives?
Variations
- Youth can write notes of gratitude on an index card anonymously. The facilitator or group members could read them aloud to the group.