6 Gratitude Activities for ESL Students (Using Songs They Already Know)
Gratitude activities can feel a little forced with teenagers. Ask them to list three things they're grateful for and you might get phone, food, and sleep.
Music changes that. A song gives students words, a mood, and a reason to say something real. These six activities pair gratitude with songs on Roxxem, and each one practices English you'd want to cover anyway.
1. I'm Thankful Because...
Play Happy by Pharrell Williams. Then students complete three sentences: I'm thankful for ___ because ___. The because clause pushes them past one-word answers.
Practices: because clauses, feelings vocabulary. Level: A1+.
2. Small Wonders List
Play What a Wonderful World. The song is basically a list of small things the singer notices. Students write their own version: five things they see or hear every day that make them happy.
Practices: see/hear, nature and everyday vocabulary. Level: A2+.
3. Thank You Notes With a Soundtrack
Play Thank You For Everything by Kirk Franklin and Karen Clark-Sheard while students write a short thank you note to someone at school: a teacher, a cafeteria worker, a friend. Deliver the notes for real.
Practices: letter format, thank you for + -ing. Level: A2+.
4. Who Do You Count On?
Play Count on You by Big Time Rush or Stand By Me by Ben E. King. Students make a quick map of the people they count on and write one sentence about each.
Practices: the phrasal verb count on, relationships vocabulary. Level: A2+.
5. Gratitude Gallery Walk
Post four song titles around the room. Students walk, listen to a short clip at each station, and write one thing the song makes them feel grateful for on a sticky note.
Practices: speaking, short written responses. Level: all levels.
6. Gratitude Live Game
Close with a quick live game built from any song above. Students review the vocabulary, compete as teams, and leave class on a high.
Need the full playlist? See Be Thankful: 10 gratitude songs for the classroom.
Sentence Frames for Talking About Gratitude
A lot of students want to say something kind but get stuck on the structure. Put these frames on the board before any of the activities above. Lower levels can stick with I’m thankful for, and upper levels can try I couldn’t have done it without.
Planning the rest of November? Our Black Friday ESL lesson is ready for the week after Thanksgiving, and this guide shows how to turn any song into a full lesson.
Videos and Podcasts for Gratitude Practice
These picks from Roxxem give students more models of people saying thank you, before they try it themselves.
Teaching Children about Gratitude (Easy English with Daisy, A2+, G)
A gentle conversation between a mother and child about breakfast, effort, and saying thank you. The language is slow and simple, with phrases like I understand and You are welcome.
🔗 Watch "Teaching Children about Gratitude" on Roxxem!
Thanksgiving Stories for Kids (Ryan & Craig, B2+, PG)
Two Thanksgiving read-alouds with rhyme, repetition, and a group of friends who share food, stories, and gratitude. It is a good listening task for sequencing: students retell the story in order using first, then, and finally.
🔗 Watch "Thanksgiving Stories for Kids" on Roxxem!
The Great Turkey Race (Ryan & Craig, B2+, PG-13)
A funny read-aloud about three turkeys competing in farmyard games, until they find a very good reason to run. Younger students love the twist. Roxxem rates it PG-13, so give it a quick preview.
🔗 Watch "The Great Turkey Race" on Roxxem!
English Small Talk Practice (High Level Listening podcast, B2)
A podcast episode on keeping a conversation going, with follow-up questions and reactions like No way! and That sounds fun. It is useful prep for real Thanksgiving dinner conversations with family and guests.
🔗 Watch "English Small Talk Practice" on Roxxem!
Roxxem’s catalog doesn’t have a podcast just about Thanksgiving yet, so the podcast picks here are general listening episodes that fit the topic.
FAQ
How do I teach gratitude in an ESL class?
Give students language before you ask for feelings. Sentence frames like I'm thankful for ___ because ___ and songs with clear themes make it much easier to respond.
What grammar fits gratitude activities?
Because clauses, thank you for + -ing, and phrasal verbs like count on all come up naturally.
Do these activities work beyond Thanksgiving?
Yes. They fit well before winter break, at the end of a semester, or any time your class needs a reset.
Gratitude week, done. Every song here is ready in Roxxem with lessons and games. Start free.
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