About This Lesson
Looking for a way to help students end the school year on a positive note? Proof Positive’s What Went Well resources guide students in reflecting on their growth, accomplishments, and meaningful moments–big or small. What Went Well is a reflective practice that encourages students to pause and focus on the positive aspects of their day—whether that's a small win or a significant accomplishment. By regularly asking, “What Went Well?”, students become more aware of their personal successes and joyful moments, helping to counteract our natural tendency toward negativity, fostering gratitude, boosting confidence, and promoting a growth mindset. Perfect for closing out the year with positivity!
This reflection activity can help your class wrap up the school year with gratitude by inviting students to share a photo or memory they were grateful for. Create a bulletin board or use our Canva template to celebrate the year's growth, joy, and meaningful moments. You can also adapt this to use with school staff!
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Editable Canva template for classroom display
- Prompts for students to share photos or reflections of meaningful moments
- Access to a unit study about gratitude reflection
Why you’ll love this activity:
- The activity is easy to customize in your classroom or at home
- You can use this resource as part of a comprehensive, science-based unit study
- The associated free unit study forWhat Went Well comes with activities, downloadable worksheets, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism
- Encourages emotional literacy and growth in social-emotional learning (SEL)
Ways to Use
- Incorporate into SEL curriculum
- Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
- Use as a brain break to help with transitions
- Use with staff during professional development
- Families can use this at home, too!
- Use the digital Canva template for virtual classrooms or remote learning
- Incorporate into end-of-year classroom activities to highlight personal growth and class accomplishments
What is Gratitude?
Has anyone ever told you to “be grateful for what you have” or “count your blessings?” Maybe your parents or grandparents reminded you to pay attention to the good things in life, and frequently say thank you. As a teacher, you may have told your students, “Focus on your successes.” Here, we present a case of science catching up to the old adage.
The gratitude skill - What Went Well - helps you and your students begin to counteract the negativity bias and strike a balance in what you focus on each day. By developing a consistent gratitude practice, we can transform how we see the world. It has long been said that it is not happiness that brings us gratitude; rather, it is gratitude that brings us happiness.
Science of Gratitude
Research shows that practicing What Went Well can have profound impacts on individuals and groups. It turns out that the advice to focus on the good things each day has many benefits, ranging from physical health to mental wellbeing. People who practice gratitude:
- Are happier, healthier, and live longer
- Are more optimistic and hopeful
- Fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer
- Exercise more frequently and have better cardiovascular health
- Have stronger relationships and increased social support
- Find greater meaning in their work
- Perform better and achieve at higher levels
- Are less depressed and anxious
Looking for More Gratitude Resources?
* Explore the free What Went Well Unit Study, which includes teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Proof Positive’s resources are and will always be free. Be well!
Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center
