How to Act, Think, and Feel Positively No Matter What

Life is full of surprises, and sometimes things don't go as planned. That's why it's crucial to learn how to recover from and rise above challenges. This skill is called resiliency, and it's essential for personal growth, positive behavior, and overall success in life.

In this lesson, pre-kindergartners learn how to be resilient by changing their mindset which leads to their actions. To teach them, the "Thoughts," “Actions,” “Feelings” visual aids are used, as well as the “Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle” poster.

The lesson begins with an entertaining puppet show featuring two hedgehogs, Squeak and Mimi. In this puppet play, Squeak is in the Unhappy Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle and he needs Mimi's help. Mimi teaches him that all Circles start with thoughts, and to flip the negative in his Circle into something positive.

After mentally engaging the students with a puppet play, the class walks over each part of the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle. Afterward, the class turns every negative part of Squeak’s Unhappy Circle into a positive one.

As a conclusion to the lesson, pre-kindergartners listen to the "Grumpy Grouch/Bright Sider" music, to remind them of the positive feeling of staying in the Happy Circle.

The objective of this lesson is to teach pre-kindergartners a strategy on how they can be resilient by having a positive outlook and practicing control. By changing their negative thoughts into positive ones, they begin to be motivated and hopeful. Moreover, even if they can’t change the situation, they can still practice control over their thoughts and actions. By choosing to do positive actions, they take control of their actions and initiate change in the situation.

In the ongoing process of globalization and the emergence of a new normal after the pandemic, resiliency plays an important role in helping individuals and countries progress. It is essential for pre-kindergartners, who will likely face more unprecedented situations in their lifetimes, to be resilient, so they can be prepared for the challenges and changes later in life.