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?

Download the activity

Resource Audience

Facilitators

Resource Type

Activity

Read Time

Under 5 Minutes

Participants

Youth

# of Participants

Any

Task Group Size

Independent Whole Group (Any Size)

Task Length

31-60 Minutes

More Activities to Build Strong Relationships in Your Classroom or Group

Tool / Playbook

Relationship Check

The Relationship Check is a tool for self-reflection & conversation designed to assess where relationships with young people are strong and where they can grow.