Positive Emotions Interactive Bulletin Board for Special Education & SEL

Happiness is typically the one word we use to describe feeling satisfied or enjoyment in what we’re doing. There are actually 10 different words to describe that enjoyable feeling, called the 10 Big Positive Emotions: awe, inspiration, pride, interest, serenity, love, gratitude, hope, joy, and amusement. Referencing this bulletin board can support teachers and students in learning and using this vocabulary, which can ultimately help us experience more good in our lives.

Activity Instructions: 

1. Pick one of the 10 positive emotions.
2. On a slip or a sticky note, write your name and a time you feel that emotion.
3. Then, go stick it on the bulletin board next to the positive emotion you picked.
4. When it’s time, share out and discuss your positive emotional experiences.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Full-Sized 36x24 bulletin board
• 11x8.5 bulletin board

Why you’ll love this bulletin board activity:

* The bulletin board is easy to print and customize in your classroom

*Learning and using positive emotions vocabulary can ultimately help us learn about and experience more good in our lives

* You can use this resource as part of a comprehensive, science-based unit study.

* It includes access to additional resources, such as Positive Emotions File Folders, which are tailored specifically to students with autism.

Ways to Use

• Display in your classroom or learning space, administrative offices, or staff rooms
• Incorporate into SEL curriculum
• Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
• Families can use this at home, too!

What are Positive Emotions? 

There’s more to feeling good than just happiness. Let’s start learning and teaching

a variety of ways to describe the good feelings and emotions we experience day to

day. Research identifies 10 Big Positive Emotions, each with many benefits. Pride,

gratitude, joy, love, amusement, inspiration, awe, interest, serenity, and hope are all

positive emotions.

Feeling a frequent healthy dose of each of the positive emotions is critical to the

human experience. It helps us develop the mental, physical, and social resources we

need to thrive and flourish.

In fact, it’s positive emotions that help us create the resources we need, like

connections to one another, creative thinking, or problem-solving skills, to not only

thrive but be resilient in times of adversity.

In her groundbreaking work on positive emotions, Dr. Barbara Frederickson

introduces us to the extensive benefits of feeling good, described by the Broaden and

Build Theory of positive emotions. Her findings demonstrate that when individuals

experience positive emotions, their awareness broadens. Broadening means positive

emotions quite literally open your mind when positive emotions are triggered, you

think more creatively, solve problems faster, and experience an expansion in your

thoughts, vision, and actions.

Over time, these moments of feeling good enable you to build critical resources

physically, mentally, and socially. Positive emotions experienced frequently and deeply

enable you to transform into connected, thriving individuals. That’s why we want to

intentionally seek more experiences of positive emotions!

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
• Undoing effect
• Improve cardiac functioning
• Increase healthy sleep

Learn more about the science of happiness and positive emotions

Looking for more Positive Emotions 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