Why explore happiness and the good life with children?
Every child wants to be happy, and every family hopes their children will live good lives. Yet what happiness is, and what makes a life go well, are among the oldest questions in philosophy.
The activities move from a class happiness jar and a playful Happy Machine to money and happiness, goodness and fairness, and the debate between pleasure and flourishing from Aristotle to Robert Nozick.
Free activities to download
Ready-to-run EduTrend Contents philosophy enquiry workshops for primary, middle and high school. Each free download includes a step-by-step session plan, facilitator notes, three student worksheets and an assessment checklist. Full 20-week programmes are available in EduStore.
The Happiness Jar
Primary · Ages 5–7
Foundation · 30 min
Young children fill a class happiness jar with pictures and enquire into what happiness is.
The Happy Machine
Primary · Ages 8–11
Developing · 45 min
Pupils decide whether they would use an invented machine that makes them feel happy all the time, and enquire into what matters besides feeling good.
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Middle School · Ages 11–13
Intermediate · 50 min
Students rank what makes a good life and enquire into how money, things and relationships relate to happiness.
Is a Good Person Always Happy?
Middle School · Ages 12–14
Intermediate · 50 min
Students consider whether being good makes you happy, and whether happiness is deserved.
Pleasure or Flourishing?
High School · Ages 15–18
Advanced · 60 min
Students compare hedonism, Aristotle’s idea of flourishing and Nozick’s experience machine, and enquire into what makes a life go well.
Liked the free activities? Go further with a 20-week programme.
Each free activity comes from a full EduTrend Contents programme: a Family Guide or Teacher's Guide with one-page session plans for 20 weeks, plus an Assessment Toolkit with rubrics, trackers and certificates. Choose the one for your child's age or your class below. Instant PDF download after checkout.
P4C-351 · 20 WEEKS · $29
Happy Questions at Home
Family · Ages 5–11 with a grown-up
Talking about happiness together at home.
P4C-352 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Happiness and the Good Life Enquiries
Primary · Ages 5–11
Class enquiries on happiness and what matters.
P4C-353 · 20 WEEKS · $39
Good Life Philosophy Lab
Middle school · Ages 11–14
Money, goodness and theories of the good life.
P4C-354 · 20 WEEKS · $45
Good Life Enquiry Leaders
High school · Ages 14–18
Lead good-life enquiries for younger children.
Photos: Kyle Nieber, Abhishek Ravi, Iryna Studenets, Vitalii Khodzinskyi, Matías Villacura / Unsplash
Happiness and the Good Life
Explore happiness and the good life with five free printable philosophy activities, from a happiness jar and the Happy Machine to money, goodness and theories of flourishing. For longer learning, choose a 20-week programme for families, primary, middle or high school.
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Happiness and the Good Life
