I try to find ways to connect kids with what they read and make Spanish relevant. The more they use Spanish to talk about their own lives, the more they learn. With that thought in mind, I made this book-based Spanish gratitude journal for kids. I’ve also included a version for students learning English.
Check out our Spanish reading for kids resource page for online books, printable reading activities and activities for favorite picture books.
You are probably familiar with gratitude journals as a way of reflecting on life and recording what we are grateful for. Gratitude is linked to happiness, so it is valuable to teach children to be aware of what they appreciate in their lives.
Spanish Gratitude Journal Draws on Books
This Spanish gratitude journal draws on books to inspire appreciation in kids. Children learning Spanish have limited vocabularies. It is also hard for children to step back and see what they like and appreciate in their day-to-day routine. A story and illustrations make it easier.
The Spanish gratitude journal asks children to think about the book they have read and identify something they like in the story or illustrations that they also have in their own lives.
As an example, take the classic story Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? After reading the story, the journal asks your child to find and record something she likes in the story that is present in her life too: Algo del libro que me gusta y que también tengo en mi vida. The answer could be a dog, birds, a teacher, the bear she sees at the zoo, or one of the colors.
You can see another example in the photo below. The book is a wonderful story titled Maya’s Blanket / La manta de Maya.
Identifying something from the story narrows the choices and makes it easier for kids to see what they have in their lives. The story itself often provides the language although there is the chance that children will choose something from an illustration that they cannot say. If that happens, it is fine! Tell your child the word she needs or help her look it up. It is an excellent learning opportunity.
Once your child has identified something in the story that she likes and also has in her own life, it it time to write in the Spanish gratitude journal. The printable book has a space to write the title and then the word for whatever the child identifies. Below that, there is a space to draw or describe her choice.
Printable Spanish Gratitude Journal
There are two cover designs for the Spanish gratitude journal. You can cut the pages apart and staple or bind them. You can also print double-sided, fold, then staple or bind.
I am including an English version of the gratitude journal, too. It can be used with language learners or native speakers.
Download Spanish Gratitude Journal
Toucan Cover – Spanish Gratitude Journal
Kids Cover – Spanish Gratitude Journal
Spanish Gratitude Journal Pages
Download English Gratitude Journal
Toucan Cover – English Gratitude Journal
Kids Cover – English Gratitude Journal
English Gratitude Journal Pages
Spanish Gratitude Journal for Language Practice
In addition to encouraging children to reflect on positive things in their lives, this Spanish gratitude journal reinforces relevant vocabulary. Selecting something from the book, writing the word and then drawing or describing it, engages children with the story and language.
Spanish Gratitude Journal to Record Books
The gratitude journal is also an excellent way for children to record books that they have read. Although it might not seem particularly interesting right now, looking back on titles, for both kids and parents, can be lots of fun. You’d be surprised how a title and child’s drawing bring back memories of a book.
