Learning Gratitude from Literature
Grade
Grade 1
UNIT
3
•
Gratitude
Unit 3, Lesson 1, “Learning Gratitude from Literature,” reinforces the vocabulary word gratitude. Students will learn examples of gratitude from a contemporary work of children’s literature. Additionally, students will create their own sentences that demonstrate their comprehension of the word gratitude. Finally, students will practice their reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates.
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SUGGESTED TIME:
20 minutes
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Listen to a read aloud to reinforce understanding of English sentence structure, syntax, and grammar
- Practice reading aloud to a partner to support reading comprehension
- Spell, define, and give an example of gratitude
- Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word gratitude
- Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar in writing and speaking
- Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Poem: “Dear Sky” by Naomi Shihab Nye and/or
- Video: Read aloud of "Dear Sky" (~1 min)
- Prohuman Grade 1 Unit 3 Worksheet 1: Learning Gratitude from Literature
VOCABULARY:
- Gratitude: I am thankful for many things, big and small.
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Today we will learn about gratitude.
- Write gratitude on the board.
- Ask students to spell gratitude on their worksheets.
- Tell students that gratitude means that we are thankful for many things, both big and small.
- Have students read the poem “Dear Sky” by Naomi Shihab Nye (printed on their worksheet) and/or play the video of poem (~1 min)
- Ask students how the author of the poem showed gratitude
- Discuss how the words in the poem suggest feelings and appeal to the senses (e.g., How do the colors of the sky reflect feelings?)
- Activity: Take students outside to look at the sky and write about what type of clouds they see. Describe the color and shape of the clouds. Describe the rest of the environment as well—the trees, ground, playground, buildings, etc.
Let’s work on some writing about gratitude.
- Ask students to write one sentence on their worksheet that explains how the author of the poem showed gratitude.
- Ask students to write one sentence on their worksheet that explains how the author of the poem’s gratitude helped her and others.
- Ask students to write one sentence on their worksheet that explains a time when they showed gratitude.
- Ask students to read their sentences to a partner.
GRADE 1 UNIT 2 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING GRIT FROM LITERATURE
Gratitude: I am thankful for many things, big and small.
Write the word gratitude:
_________________________________________________________________________
Dear Sky by Naomi Shihab Nye
Dear Sky,
Thank you for sticking around.
I’m a little trapped here, tied to ground by gravity,
in a state, a country, but you
are the true top of my room.
When I stare up, everything feels better.
You calm me down. When you are gray, I know you
are holding on to rain, doing your job. When you’re blue,
everyone loves you. So many styles of clouds
drifting quietly . . . best of all, you always change,
the way I change getting older.
Thank you for showing me how. In your own
mysterious way, I think you care. I want to belong
to everywhere, the way you do. Kids in Dubai,
Kenya, China, Australia, all know you.
You are the true world friend. Sky, I thank you
every day and night for connecting us.
I don’t need any money at all
to own your glory.
Love,
Small Dot on the Earth
Source: This poem was originally published in the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Scholastic Storyworks.
ACTIVITY:
Write 1 sentence that explains how the author of this poem showed gratitude:
Write 1 sentence that explains how the author’s gratitude helped her and others:
Write 1 sentence that explains a time when you showed gratitude:
EXTRA CREDIT:
Each day, for the next 30 days, write something for which you are grateful. It should be something different each day. There is a place for you to write on the next page.
30 DAY GRATITUDE CHALLENGE
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Prohuman K-12 Curriculum © 2025 by Prohuman Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/