Secret Society of Happy People

Pre-activity supplies and preparation-- Each classroom will need a map of the city, of the state, of the country, or of the world, and round blank stickers (or blank file folder labels will work), large enough for each child to write his/her first name on them.) Teacher will review the Thirty-one Types of Happiness and be prepared to give examples of times and places where he/she has personally experienced happiness.(Example: A teacher may want to tell to about the local pet adoption center on the map and describe how she experienced joy, fun, etc. at that location when she adopted the pet who is now an important part of her family.)
Beginning "THE HUNT"-- Give each child three stickers on which they will write their name and three different types of happiness. Explain that they are beginning an exciting adventure in geography and fun. Encourage students to think of all of the times in their life when they have experienced moments of happiness. During this class discussion time, ask each,., "And where were you when that happy moment occurred? (At home, at Grandma's, on vacation, at church?Allow 30 minutes for this project.
Explaining "MAPPING THE MOMENTS"-- Explain that this week the class will be beginning a journey of happiness by "mapping the moments" when each has experienced happiness. Emphasize that even though everyone seems really rushed and busy taking care of responsibilities and making plans, there are happy moments and memories all around us, in all activities and in all places. The teacher may want to choose the type of map, which goes most closely with the social studies unit being taught at the time. Remind the students, that they, personally, don't have to have been to a place for that place to remind them of a happy moment. For example, a child may want to go on a vacation to Florida or to college in Austin, Texas, and feel "anticipation" about that, but not have actually visited the place, yet. Also, a TV show that is fun for them may be set in a certain city that they have not visited.
HAPPY HUNTING!-- Charge the students to continue this discussion at home, talking to family members about mapping happy moments. Their assignment will be to determine three types of happiness, write their first name and the type of happiness on the label (sticker) and return it to school on the day the assignment is due.
TIME TO MAP THE MOMENTS-- Review the types of happiness and how we may discover many types of happy moments if we always keep our eyes open and our ears tuned-in. Explain that each child's hunt was different, because each completed a unique journey and each of the "travelers" finds happiness in unique ways. Allow 3 - 5 minutes per child for showing and telling about the happy moments they identified and want to "map."Assist each child as they come to the front of the classroom, locate the place the happy moment ocurred.