Videos for Practicing and Teaching Gratitude
published 12/8/19; updated 7/14/22
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
Continuing the popular series of Video Playlists for Teachers and Teacher Trainers, here are a variety of perspectives on reasons to be grateful, gratitude research, and “why we are practicing gratitude wrong.”
Teachers, please note: With such a multicultural audience teaching young children through adults, I can’t guarantee that all of the videos will be appropriate for your particular context. I’ve put brief descriptions to help you choose, but please preview anything you plan to share with your students.
Finding Reasons to be Grateful
(3 minutes)
Kid President explains that "Some days are tough, but we've got a lot to be thankful for." So he shares his List of Awesome Things to Be Thankful for, including clouds that look like stuff and no-reason-at-all cake.
(1-1/2 minutes)
A man can barely contain his excitement at all of his amazing gifts. I can't really explain without spoilers, so I'll just say that it's both funny and thought-provoking.
Students Discover the Power of Gratitude on a Community
(4 minutes)
Teachers and community members help kids find things to be grateful for even in challenging circumstances.
How to Talk with Kids About Gratitude
(2 minutes)
Suggestions from the Greater Good Science Center on going beyond just teaching kids to say 'thank you' to be polite.
(6 minutes)
Dr. Rachel Hannam, director of North Brisbane psychologists, explains how gratitude can counteract negativity bias, in contrast to toxic positivity, which is about repressing our true emotions and reactions.
Research on Gratitude
(2 minutes)
Brief animation with an overview of the benefits of practicing gratitude.
(1 1/2 minutes)
Another brief animation with an overview of the benefits of practicing gratitude.
How Giving Thanks Can Backfire
(11 minutes)
Dr. Amie Gordon shares research on five possible negative consequences of focusing too much on gratitude.
The Trouble with the Science of Gratitude
(16 minutes)
Alex Wood argues that most of the research on gratitude hasn't been scientifically rigorous.
TED Talks About Gratitude
(12 minutes)
Hailey Bartholomew was feeling depressed and like her life had no meaning--until she decided to take a photo every day of something she felt thankful for.
“My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee”
(15 minutes)
AJ Jacobs shares his experience seeking out and thanking all the people who make it possible for him to enjoy a cup of coffee. He started with his friendly barista and kept going and going, appreciating hundreds of people he usually takes for granted.
Why We Are Practicing Gratitude All Wrong
(16 minutes)
Keka DasGupta explains why it's important not just to keep a gratitude journal but to express our gratitude to the people around us.
Related Posts
There are many more video playlists and resources on practicing and teaching gratitude here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts: