Be Well, Give Thanks

LO: To use the power of language to say thank you for what matters

When was the last time someone said "thank you" to you? What had you done, and how did it make you feel? Write down a couple of sentences.

When asking for something, is it better to say "please" first or "thank you" after? Why do you think that?

What's in a word?

Thanks is a word we (should!) use every day - but where does it come from?

Pick the root that you think the word thanks derives from. Discuss with your partner and write down your reasoning.

Write a definition of the word thanks, simple enough for a Year 2 to understand.

I think the word thanks comes from....

TANKOS - A Greek deity, associated with the harvest and good fortune

FEINCS - The Old Teutonic word for 'Amen', used to end a prayer

TØNG'OS - Proto-Indo-European verb, meaning to think, feel or remember.

PANCAS - Middle English verb, derived from St. Pancras, to indicate gratitude

From 6000BC to 2024AD


TØNG'OS - to think, to feel, or to remember

THANKS is one of the oldest words in the English language, with roots stretching back more than 7,000 years.

What do you think people gave thanks for 7,000 years ago? Could these be things we give thanks for too?

How does knowing the meaning TØNG'OS change the way you see the word thanks?

Giving thanks

Today, we're going to write a thank-you message to someone who has helped us.

Use this table to brainstorm ideas of who you will thank in your message

When Who What
Today, I'm thankful to............ for......................
This term,
This year,

Which of the people in your Who column needs to hear "thank you" the most?

Drafting our messages

Now we've decided who we're going to thank, let's start drafting.
We'll use the meanings of TØNG'OS to help structure our writing, discussing what we think, feel and remember.

Write a first draft of your thank you message. Try to use:

  • five adjectives
  • four paragraphs
  • three adverbs
  • two similes/metaphors
  • one rhetorical question

Dear _______,

I am writing to thank you.........
I think that.....
This made me feel........
What I will remember is......
Yours gratefully,
___________,

Follow your own sentence and paragraph structure.

📷 by Hanny Naibaho

Finishing touches

Use the card and pens to create a beautiful thank you card, to give to the person you've chosen.