About This Lesson
January is the perfect time for classrooms, students, staff, and families to set the tone for a positive, connected, emotionally healthy year. The wellbeing skill, Jolts of Joy, can help us intentionally notice, feel, and share uplifting emotions like joy, gratitude, hope, serenity, awe, and amusement.
These quick moments of positivity strengthen emotional regulation, deepen relationships, and boost overall wellbeing. A strong start in January often shapes the classroom atmosphere for the rest of the year.
In this activity, students or family members pick a slip from a shared jar filled with simple, uplifting actions that provide a quick boost of positive emotion.
Here’s what you’ll get
- Printable Jolts of Joy slips with easy, research-based positive emotion prompts
- Jar label + instructions for creating a Joy Jar anywhere (classroom, home, SEL corner)
- A ready-to-use system that helps students self-select a mood-boosting activity
Why you’ll love this activity
- Supports emotional regulation in a fun, accessible way
- Encourages independence when students can grab a “jolt” anytime they need a reset
- Strengthens classroom and family culture through shared positive experiences
Ways to use
- Add to morning routines or choice time
- Place in a calming corner, break area, or sensory space
- Send home to families to extend SEL into daily routines
What is 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 wellbeing 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!
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
- Undo the physiological effects of negative emotions
- Improve cardiac functioning
- Increase healthy sleep
Learn more about the science of happiness and positive emotions
Looking for more Jolts of Joy resources?
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.
Proof Positive’s resources are and will always be free. Be well!
Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center
