Gratitude leaves (free printable, six to a page)
Six leaf shapes to a page, each with a prompt at the top and lines inside to write on. Edit the prompts, print on colored paper, cut out and grow a gratitude tree on the wall.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.
About this sheet
Gratitude is easier to teach with a project than a lecture, and a tree of leaves is a project that grows. Each leaf here is a large outline with a short prompt at the top, such as I am thankful for, and lines inside it to write on, narrowing to the tip so that a few words or a sentence fits. Children write, cut out the leaf and add it to a branch drawn on a wall or a window. Over a few weeks the tree fills with what children appreciate: people, places, small things. Print on pale colored paper for a tree in autumn colors, or on white and let children color them. The page is not tied to any holiday and works in any month.
Grades: Pre-K to 6. Best in: September, October, November, December.
How to use it
- Edit the prompts in the box, one for each leaf, and print on colored paper if you can. Six leaves fit on a page.
- Children write what they are thankful for inside the leaf, add a name if they like, and cut around the outline.
- Tape the leaves to a tree trunk and branches drawn on a wall, a window or a large sheet of paper, and add to it each week.
Five ideas for class
- Read a few leaves aloud at the end of each week, with permission, and let the class listen without comment.
- Ask each child to write one leaf for someone else in the school, and deliver them to the office, the custodian or the lunch staff.
- Use different prompts for different weeks: a person, a place, something small, something I learned.
- Collect the leaves at the end of the month and make them into a class book with a cover, to read again at the end of the year.
- Let children color a leaf in black and white and add it to the tree later, so the tree gets more colors as it grows.
Related
Questions
Are the leaves tied to a holiday?
No. The shape and the prompts are neutral. Gratitude is something classrooms practice in any month, and the tree can grow in any season.
How big are the leaves?
About three and a half inches wide and four and a half inches tall, six to a page on letter or A4, with room for a few lines of handwriting.
Can children write names on them?
That is for you and the children to choose. Many classes keep the leaves unsigned, so that each reads as a message without a label.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.
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