Grateful Gretta helps children discover the power of gratitude and appreciate the good things in everyday life. Through mindfulness and reflection, kids learn to notice acts of kindness, express appreciation, and develop a positive outlook.
POSITIVE SELF-TALK
“Every day is a GIFT.”
How to Use This Lesson
1. Meet Grateful Gretta
Introduce Grateful Gretta and explore how gratitude helps us notice the good things in our lives.
Help children understand that happiness doesn't always come from big events or special occasions. Sometimes it comes from appreciating simple everyday moments, helping others, and noticing what we already have.
2. Practice Positive Self-Talk
Say Gretta's positive self-talk phrase together:
“Every day is a GIFT.”
First, say it out loud. Then practice saying it silently in your mind.
Encourage children to use these words as a reminder to look for something good in each day, even when things don't go exactly as planned.
3. Share the Skill Sign
Print and display Grateful Gretta's Happiness Guide where children will see it often.
Explore Gretta's ideas for practicing gratitude and happiness:
Feel gratitude for three simple things each day.
Breathe and stretch daily.
Notice and enjoy nature.
Smile at older adults.
Give handmade cards and gifts.
Use a pleasant voice.
Appreciate the human body.
Pitch in without being told.
Enjoy spending time alone.
Thank community helpers.
Help younger children.
Invite children to choose one idea to practice each day.
4. Breathe and Stretch
Take a few minutes to breathe and move together.
Use the stretches from the Breathe and Stretch book or follow Grateful Gretta's movement video.
Encourage children to notice how their bodies and minds feel before and after moving.
5. Read the Story
Bring Grateful Gretta to life! Read her story from the Powerful You book with expression and enthusiasm.
Invite children to notice how Gretta practices gratitude and discovers happiness in everyday experiences.
6. Reflect and Connect
Use Gretta's Reflect & Shine questions from the Powerful You book to encourage meaningful conversations.
Invite children to name three simple things they're grateful for today.
Talk about how noticing and appreciating everyday gifts can help us feel more connected to ourselves and others.
7. Explore Optional Activities
Choose an activity from the Powerful You book to reinforce Gretta's lesson.
You can also create a Gratitude Jar together.
Invite children to write or draw something they're grateful for on a small piece of paper and place it in the jar. Revisit the notes whenever you'd like a reminder of life's everyday gifts.
8. Lights, Camera, Action! — Role-Play
Bring the lesson to life with role-playing!
Use the Powerful You laminated scenario cards or create your own everyday situations.
Invite children to practice thanking someone who helps them, showing appreciation for a family member, noticing something beautiful in nature, or helping someone without being asked.
Keep it playful, encouraging, and fun!
Remember: “Every day is a GIFT.”
Powerful You is a grab-and-go counseling resource designed to make group and classroom counseling simple, meaningful, and effective. Packed with 26 short, easy-to-use themed lessons, this book helps counselors, educators, and support staff guide students through important life topics with confidence and care.
Each lesson begins with a true story that reflects real challenges children face, followed by engaging turn-and-talk prompts that encourage student reflection, discussion, and connection. Inspiring quotes, hands-on activities, and practical tips are also included for optional lesson extensions.
Created by a school counselor with more than 35 years of experience listening to and supporting children, these lessons align with ASCA National Standards and explore sensitive school and home issues through a child’s perspective. Powerful You gives adults ready-to-use tools to build emotional awareness, resilience, communication skills, and confidence in students.
To bring each lesson to life, companion Powerful You laminated role-playing cards and colorful classroom signs are also available separately. These engaging tools correspond with every lesson and provide an interactive way for students to practice skills, deepen understanding, and reinforce key concepts.
