Optimism

Seeing life hopefully and having an expectation of success and well-being.

Day 1 - Linking to Brain Research

• Optimism (hopeful, positive) - make much better choices, easier to learn

• Pessimism (bad, negative) - shuts down higher-level thinking, harder to solve problems

Attitude Matters!

Optimistic people....

• have better health

• more success in school

• great relationships

• ready to handle stress

Brainstorm some optimistic words we might use.

Day 2 - Warm-Up

Optimism vs. Pessimism

• Open this T-Chart and record the words students think of that fit in each column.

• When finished, come up with a label for each column.

Discuss:

• How do you feel when you are around someone who is feeling happy and hopeful?

• How do you feel when you are around someone who is feeling sad and helpless?

Day 3 - Engage, Explore, Reflect

• • Optimistic / Pessimistic sheet - one to complete together and / or one for each student.

Seeing the Glass Half Full or Half Empty

Explore:

On your Optimistic / Pessimistic sheet, write...

• The problem:

• Your principal has just passed by with a frown on her face.

• When you say "hello." she doesn't answer but hurries by.

Then write....

• What an optimistic person might think.

• What a pessimistic person might think.

Reflect:

• Considering other perspectives is one way to train your brain to think in a more open, positive way.

• Let's list some other ways to train our brain to think optimistically.

• Think about the scene we imagined with the principal

• Were you able to see both points of view?

• How would you have felt - like an optimistic thinker or a pessimistic thinker?

• Think of all the mindful behaviors we've learned. How can we practice to be more optimistic thinkers?

KEY POINTS to remember...

• Optimistic thinkers are happier, healthier, and more successful people.

• Optimistic thinking helps us to solve problems.

• We can choose to be optimistic and practice optimism so that it becomes a mind-set.

Day 4 - Career Connection: Gardener

• A worker in a nursery spends his or her time tending seedlings, waiting for plants to sprout, keeping plants well watered and free from pests, and making sure that the growing season is a healthy, flowery one!

• A gardener can benefit from having an optimistic attitude.

• Anyone who depends on the weather and the cycle of seasons will face continual problems and unexpected circumstances.

• A positive attitude is as important as the spring rain!

Working at a Nursery - YouTube 7:56

Discuss:

• How cold optimism help you if there were parts of your job that might change like the weather?

• Think about farming or sailing.

Try this:

• Each day, before leaving, think of one thing you learned or enjoyed in class that day.

Day 5 - Journal Writing

Problem Solver

On this sheet, illustrate and write about a problem you have solved.

• How did you solve it?

• How did (or would have) a positive attitude help you?

Day 6 and Day 7 - Optimistic Digital Collage

NOTE: Having previous experience inserting and manipulating graphics is very helpful.

• In your Google Drive, open a new Drawing Document.

• Think about what makes you happy or helps put you in an optimistic / positive mood.

• Find and arrange pictures and positive words to show what optimism means to you.

• Here is a sample to help you get started!

Day 8 - Happy Tunes

Sometimes listening to music can make us feel better.

• Have you ever felt sad and then listened to some music it helped you feel better?

• How did it make you feel?

• Did it help you relax and think more clearly?

• Did it help you think positive thoughts?

Let's listen to a few fun songs and talk about how they make you feel.

Can't Stop the Feeling - Trolls - youtube: 2:24

Happy - with the Minions - youtube: 3:52

Day 9 - Journal Writing

Turn Your Frown Upside Down!

• On this Journal Sheet, turn the page (a frown) upside down.

• Compete the (now) happy face and write a few things that could change your or someone else's sad day into a happy one!

Day 10 - Literature Link