Lesson Overview:
 
Help your students discover the power of gratitude with "How Practicing Gratitude Can Increase Self-Esteem and Lower Stress," a high-impact, student-friendly Google Slides lesson designed to build emotional wellness through self-reflection, neuroscience, and practical application. Aligned with health education standards and designed for middle through high school, this ready-to-use resource helps students understand the connection between gratitude, positive self-image, and stress management.
 
Educational Objectives:
Practice Gratitude to Enhance Happiness: Students will engage in a gratitude reflection activity and rate their emotional change.
Describe How Gratitude Builds Positive Self-Image: Students will explore how gratitude improves self-talk and confidence through a guided flowchart.
Identify Gratitude as a Stress Management Strategy: Students will recognize how gratitude helps regulate emotions and release feel-good brain chemicals.
 
Interactive and Engaging Activities:
Guided Gratitude Experiment: Inspired by a real study, students reflect on someone they’re thankful for, write about them, and (optionally) share their message—boosting happiness in real time.
Happiness Check-Ins: Before and after the activity, students rate their emotional state to visually track the impact of gratitude.
Brain Science Breakdown: Introduces students to dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins—showing how gratitude triggers positive brain chemistry.
Gratitude ➝ Self-Esteem Flowchart: Visual progression from gratitude to higher self-esteem with relatable student examples at every step.
Stress Relief Strategy Discussion: A breakdown of how gratitude refocuses the brain, eases stress, and improves mental well-being.
 
Teacher Support and Customization:
Teacher’s Guide: Talking points, engagement tips, and optional discussion questions included in the “notes” section of each slide.
Exit Ticket: Includes a flexible Google Form template reflection questions that check for understanding of all 3 objectives.
Fully Editable: All slides are 100% customizable to fit your classroom needs.
 
Flexible Usage:
Use as a stand-alone SEL lesson or integrate into a mental health or social-emotional learning unit.
Perfect for middle school health, advisory, wellness weeks, or intervention blocks.
 
Copyright Information:
Copyright © Not Your Mama's Health Teacher. All rights reserved by the author.
License: Purchase grants single teacher use. No sharing with others.
Usage Rights: Permission for classroom duplicates only. No redistribution, editing, sale, or Internet posting without password protection. Subject to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act penalties.