FOCUS ON HAPPY MEMORIES AND THOUGHTS.
Resources
Bag of stones, felt tip pens, the Key to Happiness story (see below).
Instructions
Introduce the theme of happiness and read the story of ‘The Key to Happiness’ (see below).
Let children each choose a stone.
Ask children to recall happy memories whilst holding their stone.
Tell children that now they have ‘charged’ their stone, they can use it to remind them of happy moments whenever they need it.
Invite children to decorate their stone with a smiley face or small drawing and put it in a safe place.
Teacher Notes
When guiding children to recall happy thoughts/memories, give examples to encourage them, and invite them to share if they want to.
Explain how they can use their stones going forward (i.e. they can keep charging their happiness stone with happy thoughts; when they need cheering up all they need to do is hold the stone in their hand and it will help to remind them of these happy thoughts).
Emphasise the point of the story - everyone has the key to happiness inside them.
THE KEY TO HAPPINESS STORY
A group of ancient beings were sitting around a sacred circle, trying to decide where to hide the key to the secrets of happiness.
“The key is very powerful” said one.
“We must put the key to happiness and power in a place where no one will find it”, another said.
“Let’s put the key at the top of the mountain”, said a third. “No one will be able to get it there.”
“Yes. This is a good idea”, everyone agreed.
But, as they talked, they realised that one day people might muster the courage and harness the technology to climb to the top of the mountain. The key to happiness and power was not safe there.
“What about putting it at the bottom of the ocean”, suggested another elder. “It will be safe there.”
“Yes. This is a good idea”, everyone agreed.
But, talking more, they started to ask what would happen if a glimmer of the key was noticed by a fish, who ate it, only to be caught by a fisherman? So the key to happiness and power was not safe there.
After a long discussion, the youngest of the elders raised his hand.
“I know where we can hide the key”, he said, shyly. “I know a place where no human will ever imagine looking.”
“Please tell us”, they replied, having exhausted all ideas.
“The place where humans will never ever imagine looking for the key to the secret of happiness is … inside themselves.”
