I like to have my students read an informative text about the 2010 happiness research from Princeton University, first shared by National Public Radio, which states that money can buy happiness, but only up to a certain income level– about $75,000 annually. After that, happiness actually decreases if earnings increase. Students enjoy this topic, as it defies what many people might initially have thought. I would pair this fascinating topic with Aristotle’s conversation about happiness, which argues that the individual has more power to produce happiness than any outside source. In our discussion, I would ask students to draw parallels between what the current science says and Aristotle’s wisdom.
Level: Secondary Social Studies
Subject Area: Psychology
Author: Tiffany Heitman
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