Gratitud
G
de on Thanks
T
sgiving
g Day
Show
wing the Trait’s
T
Fu
ull Meanin
ng
Introduciing a skit to reinforce lesssons on graatitude sparkss excitementt in most stuudents. For thhe
teacher, it
i provides opportunity
o
to
t buttress seerious study with hands--on “play” thhat involves
students in self-evalu
uation. This skit calls on a variety off learning styyles:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Visual
V
– actorrs become liife-size imag
ges representting gratitudde in action;
Auditory
A
– acctors’ rhythm
mic, rhyming
g chants ingrrain the traits’ definitionn;
Verbal
V
– acto
ors’ speech reeinforces thee meaning off gratitude;
Physical (kineesthetic) – acto
ors’ hands, bodies,
b
and ssense of toucch act out m
meaning;
Logical
L
(matheematical) – ac
ctors’ reason
ning and sequuences assist understandding;
Social – actorrs and spectaators learn ass an interactting group;
ons:
Instructio
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Write
W
the topic on your board: “How Do You Livve Gratitude on Thanksggiving Day?””
Ask
A students to read the topic.
t
Explain
E
that students
s
willl have opporrtunity to perrform skits oon that topic. Each skit w
will
demonstrate one
o way they
y might live Gratitude onn Thanksgivving Day.
Divide
D
the claass into grou
ups, six studeents in each group.
Give
G the grou
ups five (5) minutes
m
to pllan a skit. U
Use the inform
mation on thhe next page..
Give
G the grou
ups chants frrom which to
o choose.
At
A the end off preparation time, call on
n one group at a time to perform.
After
A
each sk
kit’s performance, have th
he class givee input as to what they leearned.
Record
R
comm
ments on the board as theey are given..
After
A
the finaal skit, sum up
u what the skits
s
have taaught.
Copyright © 2015 by Elizabeth L. Hamilton
All Rightss Reserved.
Charracter-in-Acttion®
w
www.characcter-in-action
n.com
HOW DO YOU LIVE GRATITUDE ON THANKSGIVING DAY?
Characters: Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandfather, Sparky, and Missy
1. Father loves a traditional Thanksgiving Day with a huge meal followed by football. He
gets impatient when unplanned things happen.
2. Mother works hard to make Thanksgiving Dinner perfect, and gets upset when someone
doesn’t like something. People upset her when they don’t say please and thank you.
3. Grandfather laughs readily, and enjoys himself for the most part. He does expect,
however to see good manners in all concerned.
4. Grandmother is a serious version of Grandfather. She dotes on the two children, but at
the end of the day, she expects them to behave properly.
5. Sparky is a 13-year-old boy who often trips or knocks things over, and squawks loudly
with his changing voice. People constantly rip on him (make fun of him)
6. Missy, Sparky’s 11-year-old sister, gives everyone attitude, and lets them know that she is
“alpha dog” in every group.
Setting: Dining room with family seated around table.
Skit Outline for all Groups:
1. Skit starts with Sparky complaining about lumps in the mashed potatoes. He reaches for
gravy, and knocks over his water glass. Everyone else starts making fun of him.
2. Instead of wiping the water from the table, Sparky grabs his cell phone and complains
that someone made him ruin his phone. He texts a friend “to be sure my phone works.”
3. Missy sniffs at the plate of turkey, and expresses disgust at the “dead flesh” cool people
would never eat. Then, to throw off Sparky’s texts, she grabs her phone and texts him.
4. Grandfather suggests they put away their bad-mannered electronics and talk instead.
5. Sparky and Missy tease about older people living in a different world. Then they go back
to complaining about the “uncool” non-vegetarian food.
6. The four adults keep advising Sparky and Missy to show better manners and enjoy the
meal without complaints. It doesn’t work.
7. Finally, Grandmother and Mother bring out the pies. For the first time, Sparky and Missy
show an interest. Of course, they first text friends and send pics of the pies. Then they put
aside the phones and eat cheerfully.
8. Sparky and Missy eat quickly. When they finish, they jump to their feet and head for the
door, pushing each other back and forth as they go.
Copyright © 2015 by Elizabeth L. Hamilton
All Rights Reserved.
Character-in-Action®
www.character-in-action.com
9. Father calls after them that they should show gratitude for their meal.
10. Sparky groans loudly, glances over his shoulder, and yells his thanks.
11. Missy turns, thanks Grandmother and Mother, and starts to leave the room with Sparky.
12. Grandfather clears his throat and father calls the two back to the table. He tells them they
may go as soon as they exercise gratitude.
13. The two look at each other and shrug. They say thank you to each adult, and stand, but sit
again quickly when Grandfather shakes his head no.
14. The two try one thing after another, but each wrong try makes the four adults chant one
of the chants below. The adults refuse to let them go.
15. They finally hit on the right thing – adding actions of gratitude to their words.
16. The adults smile and applaud, letting the two leave the room.
CHANTS:
#1
Words are easy, words are fast,
Give them actions that will last.
#2
Though you say fine words that thank,
Without actions, they don’t rank.
#3
If you want to show real gratitude
You must use both words and attitude.
#4
Thankful words with thankful actions
These are gratitude’s attractions.
#5
Never stop with just “thank you”.
Show your thanks with actions, too.
Copyright © 2015 by Elizabeth L. Hamilton
All Rights Reserved.
Character-in-Action®
www.character-in-action.com