Nov 20, 2023 Cultivating Appreciation, Celebration, and Gratitude All Year Long | Favorite Activities and Reflective Prompts
Gratitude is a reflective act, practice, and attitude that I weave into my workshop sessions and classes all year round. This includes simple gratitude-centered conversation starters and reflection prompts during community-building activities like Handshake Mingle or Concentric Circles. For example:
“Share with a High Five Partner something you appreciate about spending the day with this group of people.” “Share with your ‘Fist Bump Fireworks Partner’ something worth celebrating about this school year.”
You can also design whole lessons or experiences focused on sharing appreciation for others. Here are some of my favorite strategies for intentionally reflecting on gratitude—useful for any time of year and all age groups.
I love to use an appreciation-focused welcoming activity at the start of a class or program, such as inviting group members to choose a gratitude quote card as they enter the room (whether online or in-person). Or selecting an object or image on their way into the class that represents a strength they see in their group or themselves.
When facilitating online workshops, I often ask participants to bring an artifact representing a success story, lesson learned, challenge overcome, or knowledge gained in their recent facilitation or teaching. We then blend the objects into small group sharing and other reflective activities during our time together.
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n my favorite community building and reflection activity, Team Tally, I always weave in gratitude-focused questions, such as
“One point for each person who names a leader, teacher, or coach who influenced them. To receive the points, describe this person’s positive leadership qualities.
“A point for each person who shares something they are proud of when they think of their work with this team/organization. This could be a success story with a student/client, or something they are excited about coming up in their upcoming programming.”
“A point for each person who shares how they plan to bring joy, laughter, ongoing celebration, and reflection into their practice as an educator or counselor.” (Email me for Team Tally Templates).
When I facilitate a focused lesson, circle, morning meeting or family night event focused on gratitude and appreciation, I use activities like “Peek-a-Who” Celebrations, “Appreciations Notes,” “Graffiti Wall,” “Celebrations Charades Race,” “Postcard or Object Strengths Reflection” and “Postcard to Your Future Self.”
One of my go-to appreciation activities for adult learning and team-building programs is “Recipe for Group Success.” This activity combines an appreciation of the strengths and accomplishments of the group with visioning and group norm-setting.
I hope these ideas will help you wrap up classes and meetings with an optimistic closing before the holiday break– but you can weave them in throughout your work to cultivate gratitude year-round.
See Chapter Eight of the Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner: Experiential, Brain-Based Activities and Strategies to Engage, Motivate, Build Community, and Create Lasting Lessons book for more strategies for celebrations and appreciations.
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