Thanksgiving brings a season of gratitude, which is a positive emotion, focusing on what is good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude, often associated with adults, can, when practiced by children, benefit them too. Research shows kids who exercise gratitude experience enhanced self-esteem, are more resilient and sleep better. They also have less aggression, depression and physical challenges. The more children practice gratitude, the better they get at it and the greater the benefits.

Poetry is literature that sparks a concentrated imaginative awareness and expression or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound and rhythm. Many children (and adults) consider poetry boring and often conceptually challenging. This however is not true. Poetry can be enjoyed by anyone young or old who explores its offerings. One of the best ways for children to experience poetry is by writing an acrostic poem.

An acrostic poem presents the first letter of each line spelling out a word, name or phrase when it is read vertically. The words and phrases written relate to the featured vertical word. Here is an example highlighting the word "dogs."

Dedicated to their owner
Only too happy to play
Great companionship
Super excited to see you when you come home

Acrostic poems give children a simple introduction to poetry, encouraging kids to play with words without the added pressure of rhyming lines. Depending on skill level, learners can use nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to write each line of the acrostic. The challenge is coming up with words and thoughts related to the topic.

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”  from Winnie-the-Pooh (A.A. Milne)

**Lesson Plan**

*Discuss gratitude and its benefits related to children.
*Collaborate and explore ways children can practice gratitude, including saying Thank you and appreciating the little things in life.
*Describe poetry (description featured above).
*Distinguish what an acrostic poem is including its simplicity of design.
*Evaluate a short video "How To Write an Acrostic Poem" (to enhance audio-visual learning).
*Compose a Thanksgiving-themed acrostic and share with classmates if desired. Acrostic theme words could include “Turkey,” “Gobble” and “Grateful” and will be decided the day of class to promote spontaneity when answering. Enrolled learners will receive a blank acrostic template before class to download and use during the lesson.

Learners leave class appreciating the benefits of practicing gratitude in their daily lives; and a new or re-invigorated interest in poetry, having experienced writing its simplest, fun form in an acrostic.

Class ends with a short video highlighting the power of gratitude.