. Happiness - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Happiness - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Happiness - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: Happiness

Happiness is something we all strive for in life. However, what constitutes happiness varies greatly from person to person. A new study into the state of being happy shows that our contentment depends on the interaction of a wide variety of factors. Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, led an investigation into what makes us happy. Understanding this could help mental health professionals to provide better treatments for people struggling with depression and anxiety. Professor Beck wrote: "We have to understand the sources of happiness to build effective interventions." Her study has been published in the journal "Nature Human Behaviour".

Professor Beck suggested that happiness can come from external circumstances (like income, job satisfaction, and possessions) or internal feelings. Beck wrote about three models of happiness. The first is the "bottom-up" frame of mind. This is based on our overall satisfaction with factors like wealth, jobs and relationships. This framework is the one used for the World Happiness Report. The second model is a "top-down" perspective. This suggests happiness comes from internal attitudes towards life. People can control this through things like meditation or therapy. The final model is a bidirectional one. This is where the bottom-up and top-down models interact to create happiness.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://neurosciencenews.com/happiness-unique-psychology-28798/
  • https://phys.org/news/2025-05-secret-happiness-society.html
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/happiness-well-being-culture-community

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities, and more.

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News

"Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers; but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publications has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools."

The Portland Eastern Herald (June 8, 1795)

"News is history in its first and best form, its vivid and fascinating form, and. history is the pale and tranquil reflection of it."

Mark Twain, in his autobiography (1906)

"Current events provide authentic learning experiences for students at all grade levels. In studying current events, students are required to use a range of cognitive, affective, critical thinking and research skills."

Haas, M. and Laughlin, M. (2000) Teaching Current Events: It's Status in Social Studies Today.

Warm-ups

1. HAPPINESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about happiness. Change partners often and share your findings. 2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life? happiness / study / contentment / variety / psychology / investigation / depression / income / job satisfaction / possessions / frame of mind / meditation / therapy / life Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. DIFFICULT: Students A strongly believe it's difficult to be happy in today's world; Students B strongly believe it's easy. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. HAPPINESS IS. How do these things affect your happiness? When was the last time these things made you happy? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

My Happiness

The Last Time

A good meal

Listening to music

A walk in the countryside

Being with friends

Going shopping

Doing exercise

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Friends
  • Clothes
  • Social media
  • Good food
  • Watching sport
  • Reading a book
  • Sleeping
  • Shopping
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. strive for a. Try very hard to get or do something. 2. constitute b. A strong and deep feeling of sadness for a long time. 3. contentment c. Combine or join together to make a whole. 4. treatment d. Having a hard time doing something. 5. struggling e. A feeling of quiet happiness. 6. depression f. Something done to help someone get better when they are sick or sad. 7. journal g. A book or magazine that has writing about one subject.

Paragraph 2

8. circumstances h. In general; when looking at everything. 9. possessions i. A basic plan or idea that helps you understand or do something. 10. frame of mind j. The things or facts around a situation or person’s life. 11. framework k. A quiet time when you sit still and try to relax or think deeply. 12. overall l. The things a person owns. 13. meditation m. Act in such a way as to have an effect on each other. 14. interact n. The way a person feels or thinks at one moment. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. The article says happiness can cause us strife in our lives. T / F
  2. There are very few factors that make us happy or unhappy. T / F
  3. Knowing what makes us happy can help with treatments for anxiety. T / F
  4. The study on happiness is now published in a journal. T / F
  5. A professor said money cannot make us happy. T / F
  6. The professor said there are two models of happiness. T / F
  7. The World Happiness Report uses a bottom-up model of happiness. T / F
  8. A top-down model of happiness can involve meditation. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. happiness
  2. mood
  3. successful
  4. points of view
  5. factors
  6. aspire to
  7. general
  8. differs
  9. link
  10. therapies
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. Happiness is something we all strive
  2. contentment depends on the interaction of
  3. people struggling with depression
  4. build effective
  5. Her study has been published
  6. happiness can come from external
  7. Beck wrote about three models
  8. the "bottom-up" frame
  9. attitudes
  10. control this through things like meditation
  1. a wide variety of factors
  2. or therapy
  3. of happiness
  4. in the journal
  5. towards life
  6. and anxiety
  7. of mind
  8. for in life
  9. interventions
  10. circumstances
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. treatments sources greatly psychology strive journal investigation depends

Happiness is something we all (1) _________________________________ for in life. However, what constitutes happiness varies (2) _________________________________ from person to person. A new study into the state of being happy shows that our contentment (3) _________________________________ on the interaction of a wide variety of factors. Emorie Beck, assistant professor of (4) _________________________________ at the University of California, led an (5) _________________________________ into what makes us happy. Understanding this could help mental health professionals to provide better (6) _________________________________ for people struggling with depression and anxiety. Professor Beck wrote: "We have to understand the (7) _________________________________ of happiness to build effective interventions." Her study has been published in the (8) _________________________________ "Nature Human Behaviour".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

frame framework external interact factors therapy feelings perspective

Professor Beck suggested that happiness can come from (9) _________________________________ circumstances (like income, job satisfaction, and possessions) or internal (10) _________________________________. Beck wrote about three models of happiness. The first is the "bottom-up" (11) _________________________________ of mind. This is based on our overall satisfaction with (12) _________________________________ like wealth, jobs and relationships. This (13) _________________________________ is the one used for the World Happiness Report. The second model is a "top-down" (14) _________________________________. This suggests happiness comes from internal attitudes towards life. People can control this through things like meditation or (15) _________________________________. The final model is a bidirectional one. This is where the bottom-up and top-down models (16) _________________________________ to create happiness.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Happiness is something we ______ a. all starve for b. all strive for c. all strife for d. all slave for 2) contentment depends on the interaction of a wide ______ a. variety of factors b. various of factors c. varieties of factors d. varies of factors 3) health professionals to provide better treatments for people ______ a. struggling within depression b. struggle within depression c. struggle in with depression d. struggling with depression 4) We have to understand the ______ a. source is of happiness b. sauces of happiness c. sources of happiness d. sources off happiness 5) Her study has been published ______ a. in the journal b. in the adjourn c. in the journey d. in the jewellery

6) Professor Beck suggested that happiness can come ______ a. from externally circumstances b. from externalize circumstances c. from external circumstances d. from externals circumstances 7) Beck wrote about three ______ a. model of happiness b. modes of happiness c. modelling of happiness d. models of happiness 8) This is based on our overall satisfaction with ______ a. vectors like wealth b. factors like wealth c. factories like wealth d. fact tors like wealth 9) People can control this through things like ______ a. meditating or therapy b. meditate on or therapy c. mediation or therapy d. meditation or therapy 10) This is where the bottom-up and top-______ a. down models retract b. down models contract c. down models interacts d. down models interact

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Happiness is something we all (1) _______________________________________________ life. However, what constitutes happiness (2) _______________________________________________ person to person. A new study into the state of being happy shows that our contentment depends on the interaction of a (3) ______________________________________________ factors. Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, (4) _______________________________________________ into what makes us happy. Understanding this could help mental health professionals to (5) _______________________________________________ for people struggling with depression and anxiety. Professor Beck wrote: "We have to understand the sources of happiness to build effective interventions." Her study has been published (6) _______________________________________________ "Nature Human Behaviour".

Professor Beck suggested that happiness can come from external circumstances ((7) _______________________________________________ satisfaction, and possessions) or internal feelings. Beck wrote about three models of happiness. The first is the (8) _______________________________________________ of mind. This is based on our overall satisfaction with factors like (9) _______________________________________________ relationships. This framework is the one used for the World Happiness Report. The second model is a "top-down" perspective. This suggests happiness comes (10) _____________________________________________ towards life. People can control this through things like (11) _______________________________________________. The final model is a bidirectional one. This is where the bottom-up and top-down models (12) _______________________________________________ happiness.

Comprehension questions
  1. What does the article say we strive for in life?
  2. What did the study say our contentment depends on?
  3. What kind of professionals could the study help?
  4. What could the study lead to better treatments in besides depression?
  5. What's the name of the journal in which the research is published?
  6. What external circumstance was there besides income and possessions?
  7. What was the first model of happiness to be mentioned?
  8. What is the first-mentioned model used for?
  9. What can people do to control their internal attitudes?
  10. What does a bidirectional model of happiness allow other models to do?
Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say we strive for in life? a) perfection b) happiness c) wealth d) good health 2) What did the study say our contentment depends on? a) financial security b) good food c) friendship d) a variety of factors 3) What kind of professionals could the study help? a) medical professionals b) comedy professionals c) mental health professionals d) I.T professionals 4) What could the study lead to better treatments in besides depression? a) anxiety b) phobias c) eating disorders d) schizophrenia 5) What's the name of the journal in which the research is published? a) Nature Behaviour Human b) Nature Human Behaviour c) Behaviour Nature Human d) Human Nature Behaviour

6) What external circumstance was there besides income and possessions? a) job satisfaction b) good health c) achievable dreams d) friends 7) What was the first model of happiness to be mentioned? a) a bidirectional model b) a diversity model c) a bottom-up model d) a top-down model 8) What is the first-mentioned model used for? a) the World Happiness Report b) assessing IQ c) prescribing medicines d) tests in laboratories 9) What can people do to control their internal attitudes? a) sleep well b) exercise daily c) eat well and keep fit d) meditation and therapy 10) What does a bidirectional model of happiness allow other models to do? a) test each other b) oppose each other c) interact to create happiness d) show how people could be happier

Role play

Role A – Friends You think friends make you happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make people as happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these things to make people happy (and why): good food, nice clothes or a good book.

Role B – Good Food You think good food makes you happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make people as happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these things to make people happy (and why): friends, nice clothes or a good book.

Role C – Nice Clothes You think nice clothes make you happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make people as happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these things to make people happy (and why): good food, friends or a good book.

Role D – A Good Book You think a good book makes you happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make people as happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these things to make people happy (and why): good food, nice clothes or friends.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words.

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Happiness

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'happiness'?
  3. How happy are you?
  4. What affects your levels of happiness?
  5. How much do you strive to be happy?
  6. What constitutes happiness for you?
  7. When are the happiest years of our life?
  8. What can we do to help people with depression?
  9. Have you ever suffered from anxiety?
  10. Can money buy happiness?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

  1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
  2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'life'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. How happy are you with your job?
  5. To what degree do your possessions make you happy?
  6. How can meditation affect your happiness?
  7. How happy would your friends say you are?
  8. Should all governments have a department of happiness?
  9. What would make you happier in life?
  10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Happiness is something we all (1) ____ for in life. However, what constitutes happiness (2) ____ greatly from person to person. A new study into the state of being happy shows that our contentment depends (3) ____ the interaction of a wide variety of factors. Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, (4) ____ an investigation into what makes us happy. Understanding this could help mental health professionals to provide better treatments for people struggling (5) ____ depression and anxiety. Professor Beck wrote: "We have to understand the sources of happiness to build effective (6) ____." Her study has been published in the journal "Nature Human Behaviour".

Professor Beck suggested that happiness can come from external circumstances (like income, job (7) ____, and possessions) or internal feelings. Beck wrote about three models of happiness. The first is the "bottom-up" (8) ____ of mind. This is based on our overall satisfaction with factors like wealth, jobs and relationships. This framework is the (9) ____ used for the World Happiness Report. The second model is a "top-down" perspective. This suggests happiness comes from internal attitudes (10) ____ life. People can control this through things like meditation or (11) ____. The final model is a bidirectional one. This is where the bottom-up and top-down models interact (12) ____ create happiness.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) strive (b) strife (c) starve (d) stave
  2. (a) various (b) varieties (c) varies (d) vary
  3. (a) in (b) at (c) on (d) by
  4. (a) let (b) met (c) fed (d) led
  5. (a) of (b) at (c) with (d) on
  6. (a) contraventions (b) interventions (c) inventions (d) conventions
  7. (a) satisfying (b) satisfaction (c) satisfied (d) satisfies
  8. (a) flame (b) frame (c) form (d) firm
  9. (a) only (b) once (c) one (d) ones
  10. (a) helps (b) takes (c) brings (d) towards
  11. (a) method (b) treat (c) remedial (d) therapy
  12. (a) by (b) of (c) for (d) to
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. something we all svirte for in life
  2. what sotctueinst happiness
  3. assistant professor of yphsoclogy
  4. depression and nyiaetx
  5. build effective nntieovnreis
  6. Her study has been published in the nloaruj
Paragraph 2
  1. external uccmirtsanesc
  2. job satisfaction and sossesopins
  3. based on our laelrov satisfaction
  4. The second model is a "top-down" petscpeirev
  5. things like mdteaiiton or therapy
  6. The final model is a diiocnteralb one
Put the text back together

( ) "bottom-up" frame of mind. This is based on our overall satisfaction with factors like wealth, jobs ( ) and anxiety. Professor Beck wrote: "We have to understand the sources of happiness to build effective ( ) and relationships. This framework is the one used for the World Happiness Report. The second model is a "top- ( ) at the University of California, led an investigation into what makes us happy. Understanding this could help ( ) down" perspective. This suggests happiness comes from internal attitudes towards life. People can control this ( ) greatly from person to person. A new study into the state of being happy shows that our contentment depends ( 1 ) Happiness is something we all strive for in life. However, what constitutes happiness varies ( ) interventions." Her study has been published in the journal "Nature Human Behaviour". ( ) mental health professionals to provide better treatments for people struggling with depression ( ) on the interaction of a wide variety of factors. Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology ( ) one. This is where the bottom-up and top-down models interact to create happiness. ( ) Professor Beck suggested that happiness can come from external circumstances (like income, job ( ) satisfaction, and possessions) or internal feelings. Beck wrote about three models of happiness. The first is the ( ) through things like meditation or therapy. The final model is a bidirectional

Put the words in the right order
  1. Happiness for strive we is something in life .
  2. The factors a variety wide of interaction of .
  3. An happy us makes what into investigation .
  4. Help better provide to professionals mental health treatments .
  5. We happiness of sources the understand to have .
  6. Happiness income like circumstances external from come can .
  7. The mind of frame "bottom-up" the is first .
  8. This satisfaction overall our on based is .
  9. Happiness life towards attitudes internal from comes .
  10. Bottom-up happiness create to interact models top-down and .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Happiness is something we all starve / strive for in life. However, what constitutes happiness varies / varieties greatly from person to person. A new study into the state of being happy shows that our confinement / contentment depends on the interaction at / of a wide variety of factors. Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, led an investigation onto / into what makes us happy. Understanding this could help mental / mentally health professionals to provide better treatments for people struggling with depressives / depression and anxiety. Professor Beck wrote: "We have to understand the sauces / sources of happiness to build / built effective interventions." Her study has been published in / to the journal "Nature Human Behaviour".

Professor Beck suggested that happiness can go / come from external circumstances (like income, job satisfaction, and possessives / possessions) or internal feelings. Beck wrote about three models of happiness. The first is the "bottom-up" train / frame of mind. This is based in / on our overall satisfaction with factors like wealth, jobs and relationships / relationship. This framework is the one / once used for the World Happiness Report. The second model is a "top-down" perspective / respective. This suggests happiness comes from internal attitudes towards life. People can control this through / though things like meditation or therapy. The finally / final model is a bidirectional one. This is where the bottom-up and top-down models interact to procreate / create happiness.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

H_pp_n_ss _s s_m_th_ng w_ _ll str_v_ f_r _n l_f_. H_w_v_r, wh_t c_nst_t_t_s h_pp_n_ss v_r__s gr__tly fr_m p_rs_n t_ p_rs_n. _ n_w st_dy _nt_ th_ st_t_ _f b__ng h_ppy sh_ws th_t __r c_nt_ntm_nt d_p_nds _n th_ _nt_r_ct__n _f _ w_d_ v_r__ty _f f_ct_rs. _m_r__ B_ck, _ss_st_nt pr_f_ss_r _f psych_l_gy _t th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f C_l_f_rn__, l_d _n _nv_st_g_t__n _nt_ wh_t m_k_s _s h_ppy. _nd_rst_nd_ng th_s c__ld h_lp m_nt_l h__lth pr_f_ss__n_ls t_ pr_v_d_ b_tt_r tr__tm_nts f_r p__pl_ str_ggl_ng w_th d_pr_ss__n _nd _nx__ty. Pr_f_ss_r B_ck wr_t_: "W_ h_v_ t_ _nd_rst_nd th_ s__rc_s _f h_pp_n_ss t_ b__ld _ff_ct_v_ _nt_rv_nt__ns." H_r st_dy h_s b__n p_bl_sh_d _n th_ j__rn_l "N_t_r_ H_m_n B_h_v___r".

Pr_f_ss_r B_ck s_gg_st_d th_t h_pp_n_ss c_n c_m_ fr_m _xt_rn_l c_rc_mst_nc_s (l_k_ _nc_m_, j_b s_t_sf_ct__n, _nd p_ss_ss__ns) _r _nt_rn_l f__l_ngs. B_ck wr_t_ _b__t thr__ m_d_ls _f h_pp_n_ss. Th_ f_rst _s th_ "b_tt_m-_p" fr_m_ _f m_nd. Th_s _s b_s_d _n __r _v_r_ll s_t_sf_ct__n w_th f_ct_rs l_k_ w__lth, j_bs _nd r_l_t__nsh_ps. Th_s fr_m_w_rk _s th_ _n_ _s_d f_r th_ W_rld H_pp_n_ss R_p_rt. Th_ s_c_nd m_d_l _s _ "t_p-d_wn" p_rsp_ct_v_. Th_s s_gg_sts h_pp_n_ss c_m_s fr_m _nt_rn_l _tt_t_d_s t_w_rds l_f_. P__pl_ c_n c_ntr_l th_s thr__gh th_ngs l_k_ m_d_t_t__n _r th_r_py. Th_ f_n_l m_d_l _s _ b_d_r_ct__n_l _n_. Th_s _s wh_r_ th_ b_tt_m-_p _nd t_p-d_wn m_d_ls _nt_r_ct t_ cr__t_ h_pp_n_ss.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

happiness is something we all strive for in life however what constitutes happiness varies greatly from person to person a new study into the state of being happy shows that our contentment depends on the interaction of a wide variety of factors emorie beck assistant professor of psychology at the university of california led an investigation into what makes us happy understanding this could help mental health professionals to provide better treatments for people struggling with depression and anxiety professor beck wrote we have to understand the sources of happiness to build effective interventions her study has been published in the journal nature human behaviour

professor beck suggested that happiness can come from external circumstances like income job satisfaction and possessions or internal feelings beck wrote about three models of happiness the first is the bottomup frame of mind this is based on our overall satisfaction with factors like wealth jobs and relationships this framework is the one used for the world happiness report the second model is a topdown perspective this suggests happiness comes from internal attitudes towards life people can control this through things like meditation or therapy the final model is a bidirectional one this is where the bottomup and topdown models interact to create happiness

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Happinessissomethingweallstriveforinlife.However,whatconstitutes happinessvariesgreatlyfrompersontoperson.Anewstudyintothestat eofbeinghappyshowsthatourcontentmentdependsontheinteraction ofawidevarietyoffactors.EmorieBeck,assistantprofessorofpsycholo gyattheUniversityofCalifornia,ledaninvestigationintowhatmakesus happy.Understandingthiscouldhelpmentalhealthprofessionalstopro videbettertreatmentsforpeoplestrugglingwithdepressionandanxiet y.ProfessorBeckwrote:"Wehavetounderstandthesourcesofhappines stobuildeffectiveinterventions."Herstudyhasbeenpublishedinthejou rnal"NatureHumanBehaviour".ProfessorBecksuggestedthathappin esscancomefromexternalcircumstances(likeincome,jobsatisfaction ,andpossessions)orinternalfeelings.Beckwroteaboutthreemodelsof happiness.Thefirstisthe"bottom-up"frameofmind.Thisisbasedonour overallsatisfactionwithfactorslikewealth,jobsandrelationships.Thisf rameworkistheoneusedfortheWorldHappinessReport.Thesecondmo delisa"top-down"perspective.Thissuggestshappinesscomesfromin ternalattitudestowardslife.Peoplecancontrolthisthroughthingslikem editationortherapy.Thefinalmodelisabidirectionalone.Thisiswhereth ebottom-upandtop-downmodelsinteracttocreatehappiness.

Free writing

Write about happiness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

Academic writing

Money can buy happiness. Discuss.

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word. 2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson. 3. HAPPINESS: Make a poster about happiness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS: Write a magazine article about the ability of money to buy happiness. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and with those who don't. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s). 5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles. 6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on happiness. Ask him/her three questions about happiness. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also.

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

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Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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