What Makes You Happy?
What Makes You Happy? Identifying and Sharing Sparks is a 45-minute activity where participants share their deep interests, talents, or activities — their sparks — with the rest of the group. It focuses on connecting people with new ideas, people, places and experiences. Facilitators ask participants to reflect on things they are really passionate about, when they feel happiest, and when they lose track of time because they like what they are doing so much.
Planning and Preparation: This 45-minute activity works with any size group. You’ll need blank paper, pens or pencils, and sticky notes (or half sheets of paper or index cards and tape). You’ll want to identify some open wall space where you can post each person’s sticky note with space for everyone to read them. Encourage positive sparks. If someone’s spark is a harmful activity (drugs, self-injurious behavior), you’ll want to follow up after the activity to see if they need support or resources.
Developmental Relationship Element: Expand Possibilities.
CASEL Competencies: communication, self-awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making.
Objective: Build and strengthen relationships among participants and between participants and leaders. Deepen understanding of Expand Possibilities in Search Institute’s developmental relationships framework.
Activity
What Makes You Happy?
Resource Audience
Resource Type
Read Time
Participants
# of Participants
Task Group Size
Task Length
More Activities to Build Strong Relationships in Your Classroom or Group
Activity
Mystery Person
Activity where participants write down their strengths anonymously and then try to guess who possesses which strengths.
Activity
Identity Wheel
A downloadable activity where participants learn about each other’s cultural backgrounds, heritage, talents, and skills.
Activity
Suggestion Box
Suggestion Box activity
Related Resources on Relational Practices
Relational Practice
Approaches to Challenging Growth
Ten approaches that can be integrated into classroom or program activities that build the Challenge Growth element of the developmental relationships framework.
Relational Practice
Approaches to Sharing Power
Ten approaches that can be integrated into classroom or program activities that build the Sharing Power element of the developmental relationships framework.
Measure / Assessment / Evaluation
Youth Opportunity Checkup
A self-reflection and conversation tool designed for leaders and staff to assess the core domains of becoming a social capital promoting organization.