Happiness Mini-Unit
1. To begin our mini thematic unit on Happiness, we will view the three comics above and discuss what they suggest about "Happiness." We will also discuss a class definition of Happiness. Why do we think that the depression rate is so high today?
Activity: As a class, Mr. Fitton distributed pieces of paper to each student and asked them to write down a response to any or all of these:
-A question they have about Happiness they want answered in the unit
-A comment about Happiness
-What they think the unit will be about
Student Responses 2017
1. How can I be more happy? What is happiness?
2. Is happiness an illusion or reality that can or cannot be reached; does it involve pain
3. How do I achieve happiness at school?
4. Why does our school system drain Children's happiness
5. Do we need to experience pain / sorrow in order to be happy?
6. Why does it feel good to make other people happy
7. Are kids or adults happier?
8. Why do some people prefer being around sadness, hate etc instead of focusing on happiness?
9. How does stress effect the body?
10. Can happiness cure sadness that has inflicted someone for a long time?
11. How do I choose happiness when times are really hard?
12. How can I be happy even when it feels like everything is going wrong?
13. Can happiness be bought?
14. What part of the brain controls happiness; how does it work? Can you make yourself happy or can your brain control it.
15. Why is it hard to stay happy?
16. How do I let bad things go?
Activity: As a class, Mr. Fitton distributed pieces of paper to each student and asked them to write down a response to any or all of these:
-A question they have about Happiness they want answered in the unit
-A comment about Happiness
-What they think the unit will be about
Student Responses 2017
1. How can I be more happy? What is happiness?
2. Is happiness an illusion or reality that can or cannot be reached; does it involve pain
3. How do I achieve happiness at school?
4. Why does our school system drain Children's happiness
5. Do we need to experience pain / sorrow in order to be happy?
6. Why does it feel good to make other people happy
7. Are kids or adults happier?
8. Why do some people prefer being around sadness, hate etc instead of focusing on happiness?
9. How does stress effect the body?
10. Can happiness cure sadness that has inflicted someone for a long time?
11. How do I choose happiness when times are really hard?
12. How can I be happy even when it feels like everything is going wrong?
13. Can happiness be bought?
14. What part of the brain controls happiness; how does it work? Can you make yourself happy or can your brain control it.
15. Why is it hard to stay happy?
16. How do I let bad things go?
2. We will view two video clips - a Ted Talk and an RSA animate about Shawn Achor and his Non-Fiction book "The Happiness Advantage." While we watch, students are to develop one question, one comment or one statement about the Ted Talk.
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3. Next, we will view a slideshow created by Jenny Mitchell and altered by Mr. Fitton, which discusses the main points in Achor's best-seller, "The Happiness Advantage." This is a positive psychology non-fiction book.
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This Slideshow goes over the main points from his book. As we progress through the slideshow, there will be some activities where you get to move around, some spots where we will come up with ideas as a class to improve our learning, and we will watch videos, like "The Mask of Zorro" where Achor points to the powerful metaphor of the Zorro circle.
- Will look at the concept of after image as a fun way to get into the brain. Achor makes mention of it. -We will watch "Tetris effect" a 2 minute film. -We will also look at "The Tetris effect - train your brain" - from 0:50-5:32) |
We will be examining a slideshow about Achor's work on "The Happiness Advantage." We will watch a PPT which contains some of the following videos as well.
Willpower is a finite resource, 2 things you need to know to understand to stop being lazy, hilarious old man prank.
Willpower is a finite resource, 2 things you need to know to understand to stop being lazy, hilarious old man prank.
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happiness_advantage_slideshow_2024.pptx | |
File Size: | 600 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
4. We will start our Happiness Journal each class for the next month as he indicates in his Ted Talk and Book.
A. Every day write down three things you are grateful for. (So you start to scan your environment for good things)
B. Journal for 5 minutes about something that made you happy in the last 24 hours. (So your brain re-lives it)
A. Every day write down three things you are grateful for. (So you start to scan your environment for good things)
B. Journal for 5 minutes about something that made you happy in the last 24 hours. (So your brain re-lives it)
Partway through the slideshow we will do a "Savouring Activity:
1. Watch the video with Laurie Santos. 2. Choose a delicious treat provided by Mr. Fitton (Several types of Celebration cookies.) 3. Take a Photo to remember it. 4. We will add it to our gratitude journal. 5. Shut out the world for a minute and enjoy the cookie. Then share with a friend what you liked about it! |
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The Happiness Advantage Slideshow deals with the concept of Willpower. We will delve more deeply by looking at the following videos of the famous "Marshmallow Test."
-Take notes on Mischel's Strategies
-Take notes on Mischel's Strategies
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developing-willpower-the-walter-mischel-way.pptx | |
File Size: | 4106 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
walter_mischel_tips_for_self-control.docx | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Negative Visualization Activity
In the Santos Course, we learned about how Negative Visualization could help us thwart Hedonic Adaptation. He is an assignment where we will walk through the process.
Watch this youtube short to start: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QXzcPM8PqVE?feature=share
Then complete the writing assignment below.
Watch this youtube short to start: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QXzcPM8PqVE?feature=share
Then complete the writing assignment below.
negative_visualization_assignment_-_2023_-_final_edit.docx | |
File Size: | 724 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Social Connections
In the modules in week 3 of the Wellbeing Course, Dr. Santos reminds us of the importance of social connections in her Psychprotips psych homework. As an extension activity, we went to the mall and did a Social Connections scavenger hunt. Students tried to do a whole sheet of as many as they could from the three options. We then shared out the next day their favourite memory of social connection. We also walked there to add in a bit of physical exercise.
See handout below.
See handout below.
social_interaction_and_connections_bingo.docx | |
File Size: | 77 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Literature Circles
5. We will watch a brief video on how to have better discussions/conversations prior to undertaking our Lit Circle just so that we can ensure we are having meaningful conversations. Also, this video will help us with personal growth.
Then we will do a series of quick conversations. Called "This or That." Click the google doc link below: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wMvidDs1GAMQZLmDfYR-AcSgZE9QTWg2v_BN6HoEAiA/edit?usp=sharing
Or "Would You Rather" https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UsfwLPiP4EzhKtUhZAZXD42f-UuvGS6dktkBtZ_Eh1k/edit?usp=sharing
Or "Would You Rather" https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UsfwLPiP4EzhKtUhZAZXD42f-UuvGS6dktkBtZ_Eh1k/edit?usp=sharing
6. We will conduct a lit-circle; information circle activity where students choose an article to read from the extensive list below. They will them choose one of the many lit circle roles from the assignment below and read the article and do a role. We will then have a discussion component.
wellness_discussion_circle_criteria_2024.docx | |
File Size: | 22 kb |
File Type: | docx |
info_circles_2023_-_update.docx | |
File Size: | 409 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Information Circle Articles to Choose From:
a_happy_life_may_not_be_a_meaningful_life_-_scientific_american.pdf | |
File Size: | 180 kb |
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the_perma_model__your_scientific_theory_of_happiness.pdf | |
File Size: | 364 kb |
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choose_to_be_grateful._it_will_make_you_happier._-_the_new_york_times.pdf | |
File Size: | 104 kb |
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happiness___all_you_need_to_know_about_the_science_behind_it.pdf | |
File Size: | 460 kb |
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the_futile_pursuit_of_happiness_-_the_new_york_times.pdf | |
File Size: | 123 kb |
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how_to_be_happy_every_day_by_making_these_7_little_changes_in_your_life.pdf | |
File Size: | 84 kb |
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use__quot_the_four_cs_quot__to_boost_your_happiness_and_clear_mental_clutter.pdf | |
File Size: | 327 kb |
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the_science_of_happiness_|_harvard_magazine.pdf | |
File Size: | 1724 kb |
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theres_more_to_life_than_being_happy_-_the_atlantic.pdf | |
File Size: | 240 kb |
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Additional Articles Added in 2023 - the other ones are great, but are a few years old.
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Samples of Student Work
approaches_to_wellness-_article_discussion.pdf | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
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happiness_lit_circle_role_-_comic_artist_-_mf.pdf | |
File Size: | 549 kb |
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happiness_lit_circle_role_-_connector_-_ac.pdf | |
File Size: | 267 kb |
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happiness_lit_circle_role_-_key_vocab_ag.pdf | |
File Size: | 282 kb |
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6. Mr. Fitton wants to do something with infographics. Some are shown below... Mr. Fitton is not sure how/what we will do yet.... stay tuned... My goal is to empower students this year, so what do you want to do?
7. Copies of the Infographics are also contained below.
infograh_print_sci.png | |
File Size: | 153 kb |
File Type: | png |
infographic.png | |
File Size: | 2179 kb |
File Type: | png |
science-of-happiness_52c861b3441ab_w450_h600.jpg | |
File Size: | 70 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
1433948186_12_steps_to_happiness_v1.00_-_poster__color_.png | |
File Size: | 105 kb |
File Type: | png |
happinessinfographic_52d165b939def_w1500.jpg | |
File Size: | 328 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Activities that we will undertake to thwart Hedonic Adaptation
1. Gratitude Journal
2. Happy moment write
3. Savouring activity - step outside the experience and review and appreciate it, focus on it, tell another person about it, share it with others, think about how lucky you are, laugh, giggle, show physical signs of elation, be absorbed in the present. We will go on a class field trip for a treat or to a park and savour and experience (coffee, treat, bakes good).
4. Gratitude visit - write a letter some someone they are grateful for and hand-deliver it.
1. Gratitude Journal
2. Happy moment write
3. Savouring activity - step outside the experience and review and appreciate it, focus on it, tell another person about it, share it with others, think about how lucky you are, laugh, giggle, show physical signs of elation, be absorbed in the present. We will go on a class field trip for a treat or to a park and savour and experience (coffee, treat, bakes good).
4. Gratitude visit - write a letter some someone they are grateful for and hand-deliver it.
gratitude_assignment_and_how_to_write_a_gratitude_letter.docx | |
File Size: | 225 kb |
File Type: | docx |
5. Make this day your last - imagine it is the last day of school, or your last day of work, or your last day of seeing a friend - what would you do? Write for ten mins.
Ted Talk Resources
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s TED Talk - Flow, the secret to happiness
- Carol Dweck's TED Talk - The power of believing that you can improve
- Michael Norton's TEDx Talk - How to buy happiness
- Matthew Killingsworth's TED Talk - Want to be happier? Stay in the moment
- Hedy Kober's TEDx Talk - How can mindfulness help us
We Will Complete A Yale Course on Happiness
Dr. Laurie Santos has created an amazing course on happiness and wellbeing for teenagers.
This is modeled on the most popular course at the Ivy League University - Yale.
That's right - you get to take a prestigious course based on the most modern psychological advancements. For Free. In our small town!
This is modeled on the most popular course at the Ivy League University - Yale.
That's right - you get to take a prestigious course based on the most modern psychological advancements. For Free. In our small town!
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1. Start with an intro video.
2. Click here to start: The Science of Well-Being for Teens | Coursera 3. Take the ten-week course. |