Activity Two: Bringing our Treasure to Life (20 minutes)

The facilitator should begin by explaining that we are going to be like pirates with treasures and then bury our treasure! But first, we need to get to know all the treasures we have, make our treasure chests, and fill them up.

The facilitator will then explain that not only do our treasures have all the good feelings we want but they also help us know what to do.

Sample Questions:

1. Can you think of a time you just knew what to do? Example Answers: When I get to a road and cars are passing, I don’t cross. When I see a friend crying, I hug them/check on them/or tell a grown up. When I see it’s raining outside, I take an umbrella. When I see trash on the ground, I pick it up.

2. How did you know to do those things? Example Answers: I just know. It just feels like the right thing to do.

The facilitator will explain that knowing what to do is called our common sense and comes from our SPARK /treasure. The facilitator will then lead a short discussion to make the important point that confidence OR bravery means listening to your SPARK, even if it seems hard or it’s not what other people are doing.

3. Has anyone’s SPARK ever told them to do something that was hard? Example Answers: Yes, like say I was sorry after I made a mistake or share my favorite toy with a friend.

4. Can anyone think of a time when they were scared to do something but did it anyway? Example Answers: I was really scared to go on a field trip without my mom, but I went anyway and had a lot of fun. I was scared when I had to share in front of the class, but I did it anyway and got a good grade.

5. What is that called when we do hard things? Example Answers: Confidence, Bravery.

Facilitator Note: The facilitator can explain confidence is like bravery or courage (maybe reference the lion in the Wizard of Oz, or Merida from Brave).

6. Can anyone think of a time when they knew they shouldn’t do a scary thing? Example Answers: I knew I shouldn’t put my hand in the tiger’s cage at the zoo. I knew I shouldn’t touch a hot stove. I knew I shouldn’t ride my bike down a big hill.

7. How did you know not to do those things? Answers: My SPARK, I just knew it would be dangerous. My body/mind told me. Now I know, it’s part of my common sense.

The facilitator will wrap up the discussion by reiterating that our SPARK/treasure helps us be brave and do hard things but also keeps us safe. Listening to our SPARK/treasure, even when other people aren’t, is a brave thing to do.

Next, the facilitator will hand out materials to make treasure chests. Each participant will use a white paper bag and markers, glitter, and/or stickers to create their own treasure chest. After their treasure chests are decorated, the facilitator should prompt the class to turn to the Treasure Chest Feelings activity sheet on p. 5 in their activity books. Once on the page, the facilitator will talk through each item, explaining each feeling and that ALL good feelings are available in our treasure. Next, the facilitator will instruct the participants to choose which treasures they want to fill their treasure chests with by decorating and cutting those treasures and putting them in their treasure chest.

Facilitator Note: The facilitator should point out that there are two blank treasure pieces at the bottom their activity sheet. The participants will use one blank treasure piece to create (either write or draw) their own piece of treasure to put in their chest as well. For ideas, the facilitator may suggest that they look at the goals they chose from Lesson 1. For example: one could be friendship and the other could be confidence.

Finally, the facilitator will instruct the participants to use the final blank treasure piece to draw/write what wisdom or their SPARK looks like for them and add it to their treasure chest. If time allows, the facilitator may ask for volunteers to share what they wrote.

Activity Three: Burying Our Treasure (15 minutes)

The facilitator will begin by explaining that now that their treasure boxes are full of all the things they need, it’s time to bury them with their imagination!

Next, the facilitator will ask everyone to close their eyes and imagine the place they will bury their treasure. With the participants eyes still closed, the facilitator will ask about what they are seeing.

Sample Questions:

1. What is there?
2. What does the place look like?
3. What does the place smell like?
4. What will you use to bury your treasure?
5. How deep are you going to bury it?

When the participants finish burying their treasure in their mind, the facilitator will tell them to open their eyes and lead a discussion to make the point that no matter where you bury your treasure, even though it may be covered, it’s still there.

Sample Questions:

1. Where did you bury your treasure? Example Answers: Will vary.

2. Can other people see it? Example Answers: No, it’s in my imagination. Only if I imagine other people are there with me.

3. What if you forget where you buried it, is it still there? Example Answer: Yes, it’s impossible for it to disappear.

The facilitator will explain that even though no one else can see it, they know that it’s there. This is just like the invisible treasure/SPARK within us. It’s always there, even if we forget where we buried it!

4. While we had fun burying our treasure outside of us, where is our real SPARK/treasure? Answer: Inside of us!

The facilitator will conclude this activity by restating the main points. Even if our SPARK/treasure seems like it is buried and we forget about it, we can remember at any time that it’s actually inside of us, giving us good feelings and telling us the next right thing for us to do.

Facilitator Note: If the facilitator is inclined and there is time, he/she can further make this point by asking the class if anyone has seen Frozen 2 and knows the song, “The Next Right Thing.” If so, they could have someone sing a few lines and point out that her SPARK/treasure is what was telling Ana to do the ‘next right thing’.

Activity Four: Circle Time (5 minutes)

To wrap up, the participants will sit on the floor in a circle. The facilitator will then see if they have any questions. If there are no questions, the facilitator will ask participants to share what 4 things they learned about their SPARK/treasure today?

1. It is where our good feelings come from.
2. It’s always there, we are born with it. It can’t be broken/lost.
3. It’s how we know what to do (common sense).
4. Listening to it means we are brave/confident, even if other people don’t think so.