All you need to know about…

giving happiness global impact

Embrace the 365give Challenge in your Classroom in the New Year!

Embrace the 365give Challenge in your Classroom in the New Year!

Have you already listed your 2024 New Year’s resolutions? I vividly remember that “being happy” was one of my New Year’s resolutions when I was in school. Growing up, I desired happiness so much as I approached the public exams where everyone was striving for good results. However, I did not do anything to make myself happy because I felt powerless at such a young age. Now, I know that was wrong. Students can do a lot to make themselves and others happy in the classroom just by building a daily giving habit. You can do it too. Want to take a stab at it in the New Year? I will teach you how in this article!

Giving Leads to Happiness

How does building a daily giving habit relate to happiness? You might think that giving everything to yourself is the way to build happiness. It may be true. But giving to others actually creates greater happiness. Happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, found that participants elevated their happiness when she asked people to perform five acts of giving or kindness each week for six weeks.

This idea was also tested by 365Give’s founder, Jacqueline Way, who found that she and her son felt happier when they started exercising kindness and gratitude just by performing a small act of giving every day. That was the beginning of the 365give Challenge to help people start giving in classrooms, at work, or home.

Ideas to Help you Start Giving in the New Year in Your Classroom

Students have so much they can do in the classroom. You don’t need to find big ideas to give every day. Small actions are the key to building a daily-giving habit. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Say thank you to the staff who clean your classrooms: Expressing gratitude to the cleaning staff helps create a positive and appreciative atmosphere in our learning environment.
  • Volunteer to help your classmates with their homework in subjects you excel in: Offering assistance to your peers not only strengthens their understanding but also builds a supportive and collaborative classroom community.
  • Donate books you do not read anymore to your classroom library: Contributing to the classroom library ensures that everyone has access to a variety of reading materials, fostering a love for learning.
  • Compliment your classmates when they answer a question during lessons and contribute an idea to group work: Acknowledging your classmates’ contributions boosts their confidence and encourages active participation in class discussions.
  • Participate in the volunteering team in the school to contribute to the community: Joining the school’s volunteering team allows you to actively contribute to the well-being of the wider community and develop a sense of social responsibility.
  • Exercise empathy and active listening when your classmates are not in a good mood: Demonstrating empathy and active listening helps create a compassionate classroom environment, supporting each other through both challenges and successes.
  • Share your stories to provide valuable insights to younger students: Sharing personal experiences helps younger students learn from your insights, creating a sense of mentorship and connection within the classroom.
  • Use eco-friendly supplies such as recycled utensils to promote environmental awareness: Choosing eco-friendly supplies reflects a commitment to sustainability and raises awareness about the importance of caring for the environment.
  • Celebrate your classmates’ success when they achieve a better score, win a competition, and give a performance: Celebrating each other’s successes fosters a positive and encouraging atmosphere, motivating everyone to strive for their best.
  • Share the importance of giving with your classmates: Discussing the significance of giving fosters a culture of generosity and community-mindedness, inspiring others to make a positive impact within and beyond the classroom.

New Year giving in the classroom

Case study: How embracing 365give Challenge makes people in the classroom happier

Christina Peters is a special needs teacher who shared with 365Give about how giving made the classrooms happier. By embracing the 365give Challenge into their classrooms, she encouraged students to start giving. Some small acts done by the students include setting up a ‘cozy corner’ for colouring books, sharpening pencils, and helping with cafeteria clean-ups. Most importantly, Christina and their students felt happier. Read Christina’s story.

Join the 365give Challenge (https://365give.ca/365-days-of-giving/) today and get a guide on how to do it!

Angela Chan
+ posts

As a dedicated marketing and communications specialist, I firmly believe in effective communication's power to connect with people across diverse channels. That's why I've embraced the platform of Blog365, where I strive to spread happiness and positivity to people around the globe through my writing. Beyond my professional endeavours, you'll often find me on the yoga mat, seeking balance and serenity amidst life's adventures.

Share Article:

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)

Your contribution will create
a ripple of good in the world

We can’t change the world alone.

We can when we work together.

Every dollar given to 365give is action for a better world.

Donate Today

[email protected]

Send us a message