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Happy Symbols

Activity Objective:

To teach the children that the actions of their bodies can be symbols of a positive attitude of acceptance and care for others

Lesson Outcome:

The children will think of personal symbols in the form of actions to spread happiness and joy to others as Jesus did.

Materials

Directions:

Tell the children that today's activity will help them remember to spread happiness to others as Jesus did.
Show the children a smiley sticker and ask how they feel when they see one of these on their papers. Ask what their teacher could do to give them the same feeling if he or she ran out of smiley stickers. (smile)
Suggest that a smile is a symbol or sign that a person is pleased and it makes other people happy.
Invite the children to suggest other actions that are positive signs of encouragement to let someone know they've done a great job. (thumbs up, wave arms in a cheer, motion to someone with a circle formed with thumb and index finger, wave clasped hands)
You might introduce a special action symbol for the children to use when someone in the group does something awesome. Show them how to make a WOW sign by holding their hands on either side of their mouth with palms toward their bodies and fingers open. Tell them to hold their little finger down with their thumb to hide it—the three remaining fingers form Ws. Then they should open their mouth to make the O.
Have the children stand with a partner and practice giving each other a happy sign.
Conclude by giving each child a smiley sticker to remind him or her to be a spreader of happiness.

Learning Styles:

Body Smart,People Smart

Approximate Time:

10 minutes

Hints:

Show lots of enthusiasm so the children will too.