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Hey friends! Welcome back to the Firstieland Podcast. I’m your host, Molly Schwab, and today we’re talking all about gratitude. Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I thought it’d be a good time to dive into the topic of teaching kids to be thankful.
But no matter when you’re listening to this episode, teaching gratitude is always a good thing. Today I’ve got ideas for five different picture books—all with a theme of gratitude—and some fun ways you can use them in your classroom. So let’s go!
Hey there, I’m Molly from Firstieland, a former elementary teacher with over 30 years of experience in kindergarten and first grade. I’m here to help make teaching a little easier and a lot more fun. Whether you’re looking for the perfect read-aloud, fresh writing ideas, or simple classroom tips, I’ve got quick, practical strategies you can use right away.
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New teacher or experienced educator, there’s something for everyone in Firstieland. So grab your coffee and teacher bag—let’s get started!
I think in this day and age, when so many teachers are struggling with kids who have bad attitudes and sometimes rude or mean behavior, teaching gratitude is really necessary in the classroom.
Kids come to us with lots of different backgrounds. Some might be very privileged and get everything they want, which can lead to kids who feel entitled all the time. Other kids may come from homes where there isn’t much at all, and they may struggle to recognize the good things in their lives.
As teachers, we can really help kids learn to notice and appreciate what they have, whether it’s big or small. So today we’re going to take a look at five picture books—all with the theme of gratitude—and talk about ways you can use them in your classroom.
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Alright, book number one is Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora. This book is about a woman who makes a delicious pot of stew that smells so good, people from all over her neighborhood start showing up at her door for a taste. By the end of the day, she’s given away all her stew and has none left for herself.
But the townspeople gather together to bring Omu a wonderful meal to thank her for her generosity.
In my classroom, we’d read this story and then make a pot of “Thankful Stew,” where each ingredient stood for something in school we were thankful for. It wasn’t real stew—it was made from cereal or candy.
As we added each ingredient, we talked about what we were thankful for at school. I had the kids gather around a table with a big bowl representing our school and several small bowls of cereal, each labeled with a letter that spelled out the word THANKFUL.
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For instance, T was for teachers because they help guide us and teach us new things every day. H was for helpers in our school—our custodians, librarian, or cafeteria staff. We continued through each letter, spelling out the word THANKFUL.
It was such a fun way to remind kids of all the reasons we should be grateful for coming to school each day.
Book number two is The Gratitude Jar by Katrina Liu. It’s a sweet story about a little girl named Mina who isn’t having a very good day. She keeps grumbling to her mom about all the fun things other kids are doing, so her mom gives her a big glass jar and tells her they’re going to make a gratitude jar.
She explains that each day, Mina can write or draw something she feels grateful for and put it in the jar. At first, Mina struggles to think of ideas, but as time goes on, she fills the jar so full that they have to replace it with a bigger one.
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It’s a simple but powerful reminder—for kids and adults—that even little things, like a hug from a friend or a sunny day, can make a big difference when we take time to appreciate them.
A great classroom activity for this book is to make your own gratitude jar. Keep it in your meeting area, and every day add notes about things your class is thankful for.
You might do this right before dismissal, recapping your day and sharing one or two thankful moments. Maybe a student says, “I’m thankful for pizza day,” or “I’m thankful for playing a fun game at recess,” or “I got an A on my spelling test!”
It can be anything. The goal is simply to help kids notice the little things they can be grateful for. Then, before Thanksgiving or winter break, open the jar and read all the notes together.
If you make this a regular classroom habit, your students will really look forward to it!
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Book number three is Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts. This is a great story to teach wants versus needs and being thankful for what we have.
It’s about a little boy named Jeremy who really wants a pair of cool black high-top sneakers—like Converse—that everyone at school seems to have. He asks his grandma if he can get a pair, but she explains they can’t afford them and that what he really needs is warm winter boots.
When his shoes fall apart, the guidance counselor gives him a pair from the lost and found, but other kids tease him. Later, Jeremy finds the black sneakers he’s been wanting at a thrift store—but they’re too small. Even though he wants them badly, he ends up giving them to a friend who needs them more.
It’s such a touching story about kindness, empathy, and gratitude.
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One activity you can do with this book is to create a “Wants vs. Needs” chart. Help students brainstorm things they really want—like video games or dolls—and decide if they’re wants or needs.
Then talk about how things like food, clothes, and a safe home are true needs. Have students write about something they have that they’re grateful for, even if it’s not the newest or fanciest thing.
Book number four is Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña. It’s about a boy named CJ and his grandma riding the city bus home after church one Sunday. CJ starts complaining about all the things he doesn’t have—like a car or fancy phone—but Grandma helps him see all the beauty and kindness around him.
By the time they reach their stop—a soup kitchen where they serve meals—CJ realizes how much he already has to be thankful for.
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A fun activity to go with this book is to have students make a “Gratitude Map.” They can draw a little map of their town and include all the places they’re thankful for—home, school, park, church, or grocery store—and write a few sentences about each one.
Finally, book number five is Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson. I love reading this one in the fall around Thanksgiving.
In the story, Bear wants to throw a big feast for his friends but realizes his cupboards are empty. One by one, his animal friends arrive, each bringing something delicious to share. Bear feels bad that he has nothing to offer, but his friends remind him that his stories and friendship are the best gifts of all.
It’s a lovely story that reminds kids to be grateful not just for things, but for the people in their lives.
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For this one, you could host a little classroom “feast.” Send a note home asking each child to bring a small snack to share—chips, fruit, cookies, anything. During your feast, have each student write or draw about something in their life they’re thankful for.
So there you have it—five books that can help you teach your students about gratitude and thankfulness. It’s a great theme for Thanksgiving or any time of year.
One thing I’d be really thankful for is if you could take two minutes to leave a review for the show! It helps other teachers decide if they’d like to listen, too.
I’ve got a special freebie for anyone who leaves a review—a writing activity that goes along with Thank You, Omu! Just send me a message on Instagram at @Firstieland or email me at [email protected] and let me know you left a review, and I’ll send it right to you.
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I’ve also linked everything mentioned today in the show notes, so you can find it all easily.
Until next week, take care—and remember to make learning feel like play. See you next time!
Thanks so much for tuning in. I hope you’re walking away with some great tips you can use right away. Be sure to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you’re enjoying the podcast, I’d love it if you’d leave a review.
You can find the show notes and links for everything mentioned in this episode at firstieland.com.
I’ll see you next week in Firstieland!