What brings your students instant joy? Use this Positive/Negative Emotions Sorting Deck to help students sort between positive and negative emotions. All you need to do is print out the deck and cut out the pictures!
Introduce the concept of positive emotions by having students identify what makes them feel positive emotions (like joy, gratitude, love, and awe) versus negative emotions (like stress, anxiety, and anger). Have students sort pictures of events, places, and experiences into two categories: positive emotions and negative emotions.
When sorting, use behavior-specific praise to acknowledge that “YES! ___ makes you feel love/joy/gratitude/awe/inspiration/etc.”
Use these cards during your morning/end-of-the-day class meetings, as a brain break to help with transitions, or integrate into small groups. This activity isn’t just for the classroom, share it with families to use at home with their child(ren)!
Jolts of Joy
Don’t wait for joy to come to you, go get more of it! Science shows that joy-inducing activities transform the way we think, perform, and respond. Jolts of Joy are small, intentional actions that inject positive emotions into our day and help us take control of our well-being from moment to moment. The overall goal is to have greater control over the ratio of positive to negative emotions you experience each day. By unleashing the power of positive emotions with intention, you and your students can jolt yourself into joy!
If you enjoyed this activity from Proof Positive, explore the free Jolts of Joy Unit Study, which comes with teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism!
The Science of Positive Emotions
Positive emotions create opportunities for growth and healing, mentally and physically. The Broaden and Build theory is based on the notion that positive emotions enable us to develop new and creative ways of thinking to enhance wellbeing and promote resilience. Scientific evidence finds that even little moments of joy throughout the day add up to greater physical and mental wellbeing. People who experience positive emotions think better, perform better, and feel better. Experiencing positive emotions regularly can:
- Open our eyes and minds
- Increase creative thinking
- Expand our visual field
- Allow for global thinking and diversity
- Prevent depression and anxiety
- Undoing effect
- Improve cardiac functioning
- Increase healthy sleep
About Proof Positive
Proof Positive is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the wellbeing of autistic people and their families, providers, and communities.
To learn more, visit their website or tune into episode 78 of Teaching Channel Talks!
