Happiness Inquiry Compelling What is happiness? Question Staging the Individually, students answer four questions (what are your goals, what do you feel trapped by, Compelling what is happiness, are you happy). Students will discuss their responses. Question Supporting Question 1 Supporting Question 2 Supporting Question 3 Supporting Question 4 How has happiness been What does the “pursuit of How do we measure Can happiness be defined? happiness” mean for happiness? achieved? American citizens? Formative Formative Formative Formative Performance Task Performance Task Performance Task Performance Task Explain assigned Determine a definition Assess the ability to Develop a claim philosophies’ take on for “pursuit” and explain quantify happiness and supported by evidence happiness. how this should inform create own qualitative about whether one can the role of government and/or quantitative achieve happiness. and role of citizens. “equation.” Featured Sources Featured Sources Featured Sources Featured Sources Excerpts from: Wittkower, Excerpt from: Haidt, The Previous Featured Schlesinger, “The Lost The Philosopher’s Book of Happiness Hypothesis Sources Meaning of ‘The Pursuit of Questions & Answers, (2006). Happiness,’” (1964). (2013). Excerpt from: Novalis, Excerpt from: Haybron, Heinrich von Ofterdingen Happiness: A Very Short (1800). Darnton, “The Pursuit of Introduction (2013). Happiness,” (1995). Excerpt from: Gray, The Materials from NYS Silence of Animals (2014). Toolkit, Economics Happiness Inquiry What is happiness? Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, essay) that Argument addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from Summative historical sources while acknowledging competing views. Performance Task Students create a word collage that represents the concepts one can and/or should Extension associate with “happiness.” Understand: Read about Candy Chang’s “Before I Die…” public art project. Taking Assess: Create a public collage for community (school, town, etc.) and determine a class message Informed concerning the compelling question. Action Act: Create a documentary incorporating the art project and class message to share.
Happiness Inquiry Compelling Question What is happiness? Staging the Compelling Question Individually, students answer four questions (what are your goals, what do you feel trapped by, what is happiness, are you happy). Students will discuss their responses. Supporting Question 1 Supporting Question 2 Supporting Question 3 Supporting Question 4 How has happiness been defined? What does the “pursuit of happiness” mean for American citizens? How do we measure happiness? Can happiness be achieved? Formative Performance Task Formative Performance Task Formative Performance Task Formative Performance Task Explain assigned philosophies’ take on happiness. Determine a definition for “pursuit” and explain how this should inform the role of government and role of citizens. Assess the ability to quantify happiness and create own qualitative and/or quantitative “equation.” Develop a claim supported by evidence about whether one can achieve happiness. Featured Sources Featured Sources Featured Sources Featured Sources Excerpts from: Wittkower, The Philosopher’s Book of Questions & Answers, (2013). Schlesinger, “The Lost Meaning of ‘The Pursuit of Happiness,’” (1964). Darnton, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” (1995). Excerpt from: Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis (2006). Excerpt from: Haybron, Happiness: A Very Short Introduction (2013). Materials from NYS Toolkit, Economics Happiness Inquiry Previous Featured Sources Excerpt from: Novalis, Heinrich von Ofterdingen (1800). Excerpt from: Gray, The Silence of Animals (2014). Summative Performance Task Argument What is happiness? Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, essay) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views. Extension Students create a word collage that represents the concepts one can and/or should associate with “happiness.” Taking Informed Action Understand: Read about Candy Chang’s “Before I Die…” public art project. Assess: Create a public collage for community (school, town, etc.) and determine a class message concerning the compelling question. Act: Create a documentary incorporating the art project and class message to share.
Abridged.GSP-Happiness.4SQ.docx