All Guidebook Resources Grades 5–8

Middle School Resources

Welcome — you're in the right place. These resources are designed to support you as you guide your fifth through eighth grade students or children through the practices in the guidebook. Whether you're in a classroom, a counseling session, or at home, everything here is designed to make the experience smooth, meaningful, and impactful.

Elementary (Grades 1–4)High School (Grades 9–12)

About this guidebook

Guidebook The Gratitude Guidebook

Grade Level Grades 5–8

Duration Four weeks

Daily Time 5–15 minutes

Format Classroom, small group, or at home

Group Orders Available — contact us for pricing

Measure the Impact

Pre & Post Guidebook Assessments

These assessments help set a baseline and measure the shift. Complete the pre-assessment before starting the guidebook, and the post-assessment after the four weeks are done.

Before you begin

Pre-Assessment

Helps set a baseline for students' understanding of gratitude and mindfulness — and gives you a picture of where they're starting from emotionally and experientially before the four-week journey begins.

Take the Pre-Assessment

After the four weeks

Post-Assessment

After completing the guidebook, this assessment captures what shifted — in mindset, awareness, and how students feel about their own capacity for presence and gratitude. A meaningful way to close the experience.

Take the Post-Assessment

Mindfulness Practices

Practice videos — one for each week

Each practice is written out in the guidebook — these recorded versions let you listen together as a class or family, or independently in your own time.

Week 2

Connecting to Your Breath

The 4-2-6 Breath Practice — inhale for four seconds, hold for two, exhale for six. This simple practice signals safety to the nervous system, bringing calm and clarity. A tool students can use anywhere, anytime.

Week 3

Loving-Kindness Meditation

A guided practice that cultivates compassion, empathy, and gratitude — both for yourself and others. By directing kind and loving thoughts inward and outward, students expand their capacity for connection.

Week 4

Heart Coherence Practice

Aligning breath with heart rate to create a state of balance and inner peace. By focusing on slow, intentional breathing and feelings of gratitude, students support their nervous system and increase clarity.

Classroom & At-Home Tips

Making gratitude part of the day

The guidebook is the foundation — these ideas help you build a gratitude-friendly environment around it.

Create a consistent ritual

Use the guidebook at the same time each day — morning circle, the start of a class period, or bedtime. Consistency builds the practice into the nervous system, not just the schedule.

Model the practice yourself

The most powerful thing an adult can do is participate. When students or children see you engaging genuinely — closing your eyes, doing the breathwork — it gives them permission to do the same.

Create physical space for it

A small corner with the guidebook, a quiet spot, or even just the same chair each time signals to the brain that this is a practice space. Environment shapes attention.

Use the practices as transitions

The breathwork practices are short enough to use as classroom transitions — before a test, after lunch, when energy is scattered. Even 60 seconds of the 4-2-6 breath shifts the room.

Share without requiring sharing

Invite students to share reflections but never require it. The practice is personal. Creating safety around not sharing is what makes some students eventually choose to open up.

Connect it to the rest of the day

Notice and name moments throughout the day that connect to the guidebook themes — a moment of kindness, a hard emotion handled well, something small that brought joy. Make it a living practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions we hear most often

How long will this take every day?

This will depend on how deep you want to go with the conversations. Average times are around 5 minutes in week one and up to 15 minutes for weeks two through four as the practices deepen.

Can my child or student do this alone?

For middle school students, this experience can absolutely be done independently — but it's most powerful when shared. The content is age-appropriate and accessible for students to move through on their own. That said, the greatest impact often comes when a parent, caregiver, or trusted adult engages in the process alongside them — using the guidebook as a conversation starter and creating lasting connection around the topics that matter most.

What can I expect after four weeks?

After four weeks, many students begin to notice shifts in their mindset and behavior. They may feel more present, express greater gratitude, and develop a deeper awareness of the positive aspects of their lives. While every student's journey is unique, these practices lay the foundation for lasting personal growth.

What if my child struggles to connect with the practice at first?

It's completely normal for students to need time to settle into these practices. Encourage patience and remind them that growth takes time. Creating a consistent routine and modeling gratitude in your own life helps them stay engaged and find meaning in the process.

Can this program be used in a group setting?

Absolutely. The practices work beautifully in a classroom, small group, or family setting. Group discussions deepen the experience by allowing students to share reflections and learn from one another. If you're working with a group, reach out — we have special pricing for bulk orders.

How do I order guidebooks for my school or district?

We offer group pricing for schools, districts, and organizations. Get in touch and we'll put together a proposal that works for your needs and your budget.