Many people go through life searching for the answer to one question: "How can I be happy and successful?" For some, it’s about the material things they possess, while others think it’s about having the most friends or being the most popular person in their social circle. The truth is happiness and success are not found in external possessions or the validation of others. It comes from within.
This lesson begins with an interactive SEL activity where the students are asked to stand beside their desks while the teacher reads a series of questions. These questions emphasize positive actions promoting happiness and success, such as eating healthy, respecting others, and keeping promises. The students are asked to do specific actions if they answer yes.
"The truth is happiness and success are not found in external possessions or the validation of others. It comes from within."
Following the activity, the class plays a game called "Be Happy and Successful," reinforcing all the ways to achieve true happiness and success. The game is simple and fun, played like the traditional “London Bridge is Falling Down.”
Two students form an arch with their arms up high while the rest of the class marches one by one beneath the arch as everyone sings. When the song ends, the two students bring their arms down to trap a student, and they won’t be released until another classmate shares a positive action they have done. This process repeats with different students forming the arch.
The lesson concludes with a happy dance, in which the students celebrate their newfound knowledge and the positive actions that make them feel happy and successful. Ultimately, they learn that it’s all about being proud of the person they are, the things they do, and how they treat others.
Pasela is a digital product presented by Positive Action.
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