About This Lesson
Proof Positive’s Movie Guide on the Side is a specially curated bundle of science-informed activities to support you and your students in exploring wellbeing skills.
This resource starts with a brief overview of the happiness skill, Strength Spotting, and then provides key learnings to set the stage to practice the skill. The resource is then followed by a printable worksheet activity – Character Strengths Web – to put Strength Spotting into practice while watching any movie of your choosing.
Choose a character. Print and tape/glue (or draw) a photo of the character in the center bubble. Then, choose 5 strengths you see in that character. Cut out the 24 Character Strengths cards and place the strengths you see in that character on their Strengths Web! Then, reflect on what strengths YOU have.
Let’s dig deeper into your favorite characters’ challenges, strengths, and emotions so you and your students can start to recognize where and how you can take control of your own wellbeing.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Resource sheet introduction to the happiness skill
- Key learnings as it relates to the happiness skill
- Printable worksheet to put the skill into practice
- Printable cut-outs of the 24 Character Strengths
- Sample Answer Key using Disney Pixar’s Inside Out movies
- Access to the comprehensive movie Guide on the Side with more activities to teach the skills of happiness while watching any movie
Why you’ll love this activity:
* You can use each worksheet as a stand-alone activity or as a bundle
*The activities are easy to print and customize in your classroom or at home
*Connect with others and prompt discussions around emotions and wellbeing
*Perfect practices for the end of the school year and summer break
*It can be fun (and helpful!) to understand what’s happening in our brains
*All activities can be used for any movie, book, or show!
Ways to Use
- Incorporate into SEL curriculum
- Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
- Watch the movie in full, then discuss & practice activities after OR take an intermission after key scenes to dive right in
- Families can use this at home, too!
What is Strength Spotting?
Humans have a biological need to be seen and appreciated for who we are at our core — in other words, our Signature Strengths. Positive Psychology researchers Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson created the Values in Action Survey or The VIA. This 96-item VIA survey identifies your capacity to exhibit each of the 24 Character Strengths. These 24 strengths were identified as being valued by humans across many cultures and holding value throughout history.
Strength Spotting builds on the skill of Character Strengths, moving you from simply becoming AWARE of your strengths to EXPLORING and APPLYING them more intentionally. Strength Spotting is the skill of noticing, describing, and appreciating the Character Strengths in yourself and those around you. This skill encourages you to see people as an orchestra of strengths by shining the light on what is best with the people around you and in your community. This practice not only benefits you — it also helps others, including students with autism, increase their capacity to put their strengths into action in beneficial ways. Let's shine a light on what is RIGHT with us and those around us so we might all flourish together.
The Science of Strength Spotting
The evidence is clear — knowing and using your strengths positively impacts your life. If you keep your strengths top of mind and live them each day, you're significantly more likely to thrive. People who know their strengths and utilize the practice of Strength Spotting experience:
- Enhanced overall wellbeing and life satisfaction
- Greater happiness and less depression
- Greater relationship satisfaction
- Less stress and reduced anxiety
- Higher levels of positive work experiences
- Increased intrinsic motivation and engagement
** Download the full Movie Guide on the Side **
Looking for more Strength Spotting resources?
* Explore the free Strength Spotting Unit Study, which comes with teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored
