3/2/2021 PBS LearningMedia
Happiness
Using This Resource
Here are suggested ways to engage students with this video and with activities related to this topic.
Viewing the video: Use the following suggestions to guide students' viewing of the video:
Before: Tell students to imagine that they will have 60 seconds to take anything they want from a toy store.
Have them create a list of items they'd take and explain why. Identify similarities and differences in students'
answers. Now tell students they are going to watch a short video about three kids who had such a shopping
spree in a toy store.
After: After watching the video, students may have some insights into how each character made his or her
choices and if "happiness" was the motivator. Discuss the following questions with students: How did the
characters in the video choose their items? What were the results? Ask students their reasons for choosing
the items they listed. Which item(s) would make them the happiest? Would they choose something different
now?
Doing research projects—individual: Have students interview their parents or grandparents about what made
them happy when they were kids. Students could compare/contrast with their own views and write about how things
have (or have not) changed.
Connecting to subject areas: Ask students to bring in print advertisements for toys, and discuss these ads in
class. Point out when an ad is unrealistic: What is the company not telling us? Do you know anyone who looks like
that? anyone who lives like that?
Reprinted from PBS LearningMedia: Happiness
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lpsc10.sci.life.happy/happiness/
© 2013 GBH. All Rights Reserved. For personal or classroom use only. Not for redistribution.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/print_support_material/31404/55409/ 1/1
