Joy Signals Slides Happy Body Signals
How does your body tell you that you're feeling happy?
😊 ✨ 💃
The Treat Test!
Imagine you just got your favorite treat in the whole world!
Show me your face!
What do your eyes do? What does your mouth do?
Heavy Body
Shoulders down, moving slowly, feeling like a heavy rock.
Sad or Tired
Light Body
Bouncing toes, wiggly fingers, feeling like a floating balloon!
Happy or Excited
Mirror Me!
Turn to a partner. One person is the Leader , one person is the Mirror .
🖐️
Wiggle Fingers
😁
Big Smile
🤸
Small Jump
Checking In
My body feels light...
...when I am doing something I love!
I can notice my joy...
...by feeling my heart and my wiggles.
Body Detective Teacher Guide Body Detective
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 1: Recognizing Happy Body Signals
Joy Discovery Lab
Duration
30-40 Minutes
Format
Workshop / Simulation
Key Goal
Identify "light" body signals
1 The Hook: The Treat Test (5 mins)
"Can you show me what your face looks like when you get your favorite treat? Maybe it's a cold ice cream cone or a crunchy apple."
Encourage students to exaggerate their facial expressions.
Teacher Note: Look for widening eyes, upturned mouths, and active eyebrows.
2 Heavy vs. Light (10 mins)
The Heavy Rock (Sad/Tired)
Ask students to pretend their arms are heavy logs and their feet are stuck in mud. Walk slowly around the room with slumped shoulders.
The Light Balloon (Happy/Joy)
Ask students to imagine they are as light as a balloon. Walk on tiptoes, wiggle fingers in the air, and let their bodies feel bouncy and energetic.
3 Mirror Me Workshop (10 mins)
Pair students up. Assign one "Leader" and one "Mirror."
The Leader acts out a 'light' body movement (wiggling, smiling, dancing).
The Mirror must copy them exactly.
Discussion Question: "How did your heart feel when you were wiggling? Did it feel fast or slow? Was it quiet or loud?"
4 Reflection (5 mins)
Distribute the Mirror Me Worksheet . Help students draw their "happy face" and circle the words that describe how their body feels when they are joyful.
Objective: By the end of this session, students will be able to demonstrate three 'light' body signals associated with happiness.
Mirror Me Worksheet Name:
Date:
Mirror Me
My Happy Body Signals
Draw Your Happy Face!
When I am doing something I love, my face looks like this...
How does your body feel?
Circle the words that match your "Happy Body."
Light
Fast Heart
Wiggly
Bouncy
✨ I am a Joy Detective! ✨
Sensory Joy Slides Sensory Joy
Finding the things that make our senses smile!
👀
👂
🖐️
The Treasure Hunt!
"Today, we aren't looking for gold or diamonds. We are looking for Feel-Good Feelings! "
Sounds
Sights
Touches
👍
Things I Like
They make my body feel warm, fuzzy, and happy.
👎
No Thank You
They might feel itchy, loud, or too much.
Detective Stations
🐚
Touch
Fuzzy blankets vs. Rough sand
🔔
Sound
Soft bells vs. Loud drums
🌈
Sight
Soft lights vs. Bright colors
True or False?
"Everybody likes the exact same things."
False!
We are all different! What makes ME happy might be different than what makes YOU happy.
Treasure Hunt Teacher Guide Treasure Hunt Guide
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 2: Exploring Sensory Joys
Joy Discovery Lab
Station Setup (Preparation Needed)
Touch Station
• Fuzzy fabric/stuffies
• Sandpaper or stones
• Stress balls/Slime
Sound Station
• Rainstick/Chimes
• Bubble wrap (loud)
• Nature sound clips
Sight Station
• Kaleidoscopes
• Flashlight/Filters
• Glitter jars
1 The Hook: Treasure Hunt (5 mins)
"We are going on a treasure hunt today! But our treasure isn't gold. It's things that make our eyes, ears, and hands feel HAPPY."
2 Station Rotation (15 mins)
Divide students into 3 groups. Give each group 4 minutes at each station.
Teacher Prompts for Each Station:
Touch: "Does this feel soft like a cloud or scratchy like a cat's tongue?"Sound: "Close your eyes. Does that sound like a gentle rain or a noisy machine?"Sight: "Which color makes you want to smile the most?"
3 Like vs. No Thanks (10 mins)
Hand out the Like vs No Thanks Sorting Sheet . Using images or simple drawings, students place items in the 'Yes' heart or the 'No' circle.
Key Insight: Emphasize that it's okay not to like something! "Some people love loud music, and some people love quiet. Both are great!"
4 Sharing Joy (5 mins)
Have students turn to a neighbor and share ONE thing they found that made them feel happy.
Self-Knowledge Goal: Students can name at least two sensory experiences that they personally enjoy.
Like vs No Thanks Sorting Sheet Explorer:
Date:
MY SENSORY SEARCH
JOY DISCOVERY LAB
THINGS I LIKE
Draw or glue things that make you feel good!
YES PLEASE!
NO THANKS
Draw things that make you feel "yuck" or too much!
NOT FOR ME
Soft colors?
Quiet bells?
Fuzzy toys?
Energy Engine Slides ZOOM OR ZEN?
Checking our Energy Engine
ZOOM
ZEN
How do you feel right now?
ZEN
ZOOM
Calm, quiet, and slow.
Active, loud, and fast!
ZOOM FUN
🏃
Running
💃
Dancing
⚽
Playing Ball
ZEN FUN
📚
Reading
🖍️
Coloring
🧘
Quiet Time
When do we need it?
At Recess?
ZOOM!
Before Nap?
ZEN!
Zoom Zen Teacher Guide Zoom Zen Guide
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 3: Categorizing Fun
Joy Discovery Lab
Learning Goal
Students will categorize positive activities by energy level and identify which activities help them regulate their emotions.
Key Vocabulary
Zoom (High Energy) Zen (Calm Energy)
1 Game: Zoom or Zen (10 mins)
Call out an activity and have students act out the "Energy Mode" for it.
If it's ZOOM...
Students run in place as fast as they can (safely) for 5 seconds.
If it's ZEN...
Students sit cross-legged and take one deep "balloon breath."
Examples: Jumping Jacks, Painting, Sleeping, Playing Tag, Listening to a Story.
2 Discussion: The Right Time (10 mins)
"What would happen if we tried to play tag while we were trying to fall asleep? Or if we tried to read a book while we were running on the playground?"
Help students realize that both "Zoom" and "Zen" are good, but they fit different times.
Ask: "If you are feeling a little bit cranky or sad, which one would help you feel better? A Zoom activity or a Zen one?" (Acknowledge that both can work depending on the person!)
3 Worksheet Activity (15 mins)
Provide the Activity Sort Game worksheet. Students will cut out the image squares at the bottom (or you can pre-cut) and glue them into the correct engine side: Zoom (Orange) or Zen (Blue).
Differentiation
Support: Provide pre-cut images and focus on just 2 contrasting activities first (e.g., sleeping vs. running).
Extension: Ask students to draw one NEW activity of their own choice and decide if it's Zoom or Zen.
Activity Sort Game Name:
ZOOM OR ZEN?
The Activity Sort
ZOOM
Fast & Active
ZEN
Calm & Quiet
Cut these out and glue them above!
🏃
Running
📚
Reading
🤸
Cartwheels
🖍️
Coloring
🕺
Dancing
🧩
Puzzles
Perfect Day Slides JOY MAPS
Creating a visual map of the things we love!
Choose
Cut
Paste
Close your eyes... 😌
"Imagine you have a whole day to do only the things that make you happy. From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep."
What would you do?
What goes on a Map?
🍎
Favorite Foods
Sweet, salty, or crunchy!
🏃
Favorite Moves
Zoom or Zen fun!
🐕
Favorite Things
Toys, animals, or nature!
👩👩👦
Favorite People
Friends and family!
When do we use a Joy Map?
When your body feels Heavy or your heart feels Sad , look at your Map! It reminds you of all the things that make you Light .
"It's like a battery charger for my happy feelings!"
Collage Project Teacher Guide Collage Project
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 4: Mapping My Favorites
Joy Discovery Lab
Materials Needed
• Magazines or printed clip art sheets
• Glue sticks and child-safe scissors
• My Joy Map Template (1 per student)
• Brightly colored markers or crayons
1 Guided Visualization (5 mins)
"If you could design a perfect day with only your favorite things, what would you do? Take a deep breath and see it in your mind."
Ask 2-3 students to share one thing they saw in their "Perfect Day."
2 Building the Map (25 mins)
Students work independently to fill their Joy Map template. Encourage them to find images that represent:
Sensory Joy: Something they loved touching or hearing in Lesson 2.Energy Choice: One Zoom and one Zen activity from Lesson 3.Personal Interest: A toy, pet, or food that makes them smile.
Teacher Role: Circulate and ask, "Why did you choose that picture? How does it make your body feel when you think about it?"
3 Closing Circle (5 mins)
Have students hold up their maps. "These are your Joy Maps. If you ever feel sad or tired, you can look at this and remember things that help you feel better."
Objective: Students create a concrete visual aid containing at least 3 distinct activities that positively impact their mood.
My Joy Map Template MY JOY MAP
All the things that make me feel light!
MAP MAKER:
Glue & Draw Here
Something Zen
Something Zoom
Something I Love
I can use this map whenever I need a happy boost! ✨
Show and Tell Slides SHARING THE SPARK
Telling our friends about our favorite things!
🌟
🗣️
👂
Being a Good Friend
The Speaker
"I chose this because it makes my body feel light!"
The Listener
"That's so cool! I like how you chose that!"
The Best Part?
"My Joy Map and your Joy Map might look totally different..."
AND THAT'S GREAT!
We can learn new happy activities from our friends!
Give a Kindness Star!
When a friend shares their map, we give them a Kindness Star card to say:
Sharing Circle Teacher Guide Sharing Circle
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 5: Sharing Our Joy Maps
Joy Discovery Lab
Speaking Goal
"I can name one thing on my map and explain why I like it."
Listening Goal
"I can say one nice thing about a friend's map."
1 The Hook: Joy Detective (5 mins)
"Today we are Joy Detectives. Our mission is to find out what makes our friends the happiest. When you listen to a friend, you are looking for their 'Spark'!"
2 Small Group Sharing (20 mins)
Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students.
The Speaker's Job:
"On my map, I have [Item]. It makes me feel [Happy/Calm/Zoomy] because [Reason]."
The Listener's Job:
"I like your [Item]! That looks like so much fun."
3 Kindness Stars (10 mins)
Give each student 3 Kindness Star Cards . After a friend shares, the other group members give them a star card.
Teacher Note: Model how to give a card with eye contact and a smile.
Closing: "Who heard an activity today that they want to try? Sharing joy helps us find even more ways to be happy!"
End of Sequence
Kindness Star Cards Printable Kindness Star Cards
SUPER SHARING!
I love learning what makes you happy!
To: ____________ From: ____________
JOY DETECTIVE
Thank you for being such a good listener!
To: ____________ From: ____________
SO COOL!
Your Joy Map is amazing and unique!
To: ____________ From: ____________
STAY BRIGHT
You help make our class a happy place!
To: ____________ From: ____________
Teacher: Cut these cards out and distribute to students for the sharing circle!
