Your Happiness Calendar for August 2026
This month, don’t forget to make space for joy. As many of you prepare to head back to school, it can be tempting to spend these final days of summer focused on everything that needs to get done. While you’re getting ready to welcome students and colleagues for a new year, remember to savor the moments that replenish you.
The Greater Good Science Center’s August Happiness calendar invites you to infuse the month with joy. Relish the last long days of summer with friends and family and imagine all the possibilities a new school year will bring.
Thank you for all you do, educators!
To get to the interactive calendar, click on the image above or go to the calendar page in the Greater Good Magazine. (Please note: If you are having trouble clicking on calendar links with the Chrome browser, try these tips to fix the issue or try a different browser.)
Greater Good in Education Practices to elicit more joy in your life
- Stepping up Family Engagement with Dance (for elementary grades): A list of ideas for promoting family involvement through the joy of dance
- What Kind of Happy Are You? (for upper elem & middle school): Students learn about 10 positive emotions and share when and where they have felt some of these emotions. They also learn about how their peers access positive emotions and reflect on the range of ways they might experience positive emotions more frequently.
- Meaningful Photos for Students (for middle school to post secondary grades): Students spend 15 minutes a day for one week taking photos of or sketching things that bring meaning to their lives, and then finish with a written reflection that asks them what each photo or drawing represents and why it’s meaningful. This activity can be adapted for adults by asking staff members to capture images prior to a meeting or PD day.
- Awe-Inspiring Affirmations (for all grades): Students watch an awe-inspiring video, then build on the positive emotions they experience by writing a personal affirmation.
- Share a Laugh (for adults): School staff and faculty take a moment to laugh either alone or together as a way to help promote health and greater well being.
And check out this article in the Greater Good Magazine, “How to Bring More Joy Into Your Classroom” by Emily Brower for even more ideas!
Are you ready to build kinder, happier schools where everyone belongs? Join Greater Good Educators! Explore the science of well-being in a supportive community of practice with educators from around the world. Registration is now open for the 2026-2027 school year!