Health Matters

Happiness
“Happiness is an inside job.”
­—
­ Author Unknown

The quote above is a well-known saying.

Being happy is also “easier said than done.”
In other words, it takes effort to live a happy life.
In this lesson, you will read A Prescription for Happiness.
Do you need to “up your dosage”?

Pre-Reading
A. Discuss B. Warm-Up Questions

Work together as a class. 1. What affects happiness the most: money, health, or love?
Complete this thought
2. What age are people happiest?
with as many nouns and
phrases as possible: 3. Should you smile when you are unhappy?

4. Why do we feel happier in some places than others?

Happiness is...
5. How long does a hug usually last?

C. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. genetics a)  to have a feeling of excitement for something happening in the future
2. miserable b)  the date something is due to be finished
3. age-appropriate c)  one’s overall feeling (e.g., happy, sad)
4. fake d)  positive things in life, such as health, friends, and a good job
5. mood e)  the study of inherited genes
6. deadline f)  thankfulness and appreciation for one’s blessings
7. look forward to g)  very unhappy
8. blessings h)  suitable for a certain stage of development
9. gratitude i)  with a happy(ier) thought or with an activity that makes one happy
10. on a happy(ier) note j)  not real

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 Happiness
Health Matters

Reading
A PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS

1. Understand the statistics. 5. Hug for at least 6 seconds.

Genetics determine about 50% of your happiness A hug with a close friend or family member should
level. 10% comes from external factors like health last at least 6 seconds. Studies show that children
and income. The rest is up to you. If you weren’t who are hugged a lot become happier adults.
born happy, work harder at it.
6. Keep a daily to-do list.
2. Don’t think about your age.
Meeting goals and deadlines increases a sense
Worrying about how old you are getting will of well-being. Make a new list each day, and
make you miserable. Happy people don’t care always plan something to look forward to.
about age appropriateness. If you want to wear
pigtails, go for it. Most people get happier after 7. Count your blessings.
the age of 50.
Even on bad days, you have to be grateful.
Experts recommend keeping a gratitude
3. Smile even if you’re faking.
journal. For best results, count your
Health experts say that smiling releases natural blessings before you go to sleep.
pain-killers. These may help you fight off colds
and flus. A fake smile is better than no smile.
Bonus Tip:
4. Surround yourself with happy.
Always end your day or activity on a happy note.
Happiness is mainly an inside job. However, a This is the part you will remember and share
with the world.
beautifully decorated room or office can improve
your mood. Beautify the room you spend most
of your time in. Stay organized.

Comprehension
Read the statements below. If the statement is true, write T beside
the sentence. If it is false, write F and correct the information.

1. A quick hug is better than a long hug.

2. We control less than 50% of our happiness.

3. Deadlines make us miserable.

4. A smile should last at least six seconds.

5. A gratitude journal is a way to keep track of your blessings.

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 Happiness
Health Matters

Vocabulary Review
A. Summarize

Student A: Student B:

Reread 1–3 on page 2. Look up any words that you
do not know. Put away the reading and try to retell
your half of the prescription to your partner. Don’t
look at the reading as you speak. Use the words
below to help you remember, and cross off each
word as you or your partner uses it:
Reread 4–7 on page 2. Look up any words that you
do not know. Put away the reading and try to retell
your half of the prescription to your partner. Don’t
look at the reading as you speak. Use the words
below to help you remember, and cross off each
word as you or your partner uses it:

• prescription • age appropriateness • mood • look forward to

• genetics • fake • deadline • gratitude
• miserable • blessings

B. Word Forms

Write the word form for each vocabulary word. Then write example
sentences for each word. Use your notebook if you need more room.

# Word Word Form Example Sentence

1 prescribe

2 prescription

3 genetic

4 genetics

5 misery

6 miserable

7 grateful

8 gratitude

9 appropriate

10 appropriateness

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 Happiness
Health Matters

Describe and Report

A. Direct Vs. Indirect Speech

Direct Speech

She said: “My favorite place is my grandma’s sun room.

There are lots of tropical plants in there. My grandma
plays classical music. I feel so happy in that room.”
Indirect/Reported Speech
“She said that she loves her grandma’s sun room.
She says it’s her happy place. She said there are lots
of tropical plants in her grandma’s sun room. She says
she loves the classical music her grandma listens to
in there. It makes her happy.”
Tip:
When reporting things that are still true in the
present, you do not need to change the second verb
to be “more in the past”. It is up to you.
“She said she loves...” or “She said she loved...”
are both fine. Some people include “that” after
the reporting verb. “She said that she loves...”

B. My Happy Place

1. Think about the place where you feel happiest.

Maybe it is a restaurant, a beach, or your very own bedroom.

2. Describe this “happy place” to a partner.

3. Take notes as your partner describes his or her “happy place.”

4. Tell the class about your partner’s happy place. Use “indirect/reported
speech.” Common reported speech verbs are “said,” “told,” and “asked.”

Role-Play
DOCTOR’S ORDERS

Create a role-play between a depressed patient and a doctor.

Why is the patient unhappy, and what does the doctor recommend?
Practice using words that are marked in bold in the reading.

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 Happiness
Health Matters

Writing
A. Brainstorm B. Make a List

What is your prescription for Write your list here, or type it in a blog post or word document.
happiness? Use this space
to brainstorm some ideas. MY PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS

1. 

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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 Happiness
Health Matters

Answer Key
NOTE: LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Intermediate–Advanced

It would help to pre-teach a lesson on In this lesson, students read and write TIME: 1.5–2 hours

reported and indirect speech prior to a prescription for happiness. They also TAGS:  happiness, happy, health,
this lesson. Check out our Grammar review direct and indirect speech. reported speech, indirect speech
Practice Worksheets lesson on Reported
Speech. https://esllibrary.com/courses/88/
lessons/1618

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. DISCUSS A. SUMMARIZE

Discuss as a class. Answers will vary. Individual answers.

B. WARM-UP QUESTIONS B. WORD FORMS

Discuss as a class. Answers will vary. Sentences will vary.

1. verb 5. noun 9. adjective

C. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
2. noun 6. adjective 10. noun
1. e 3. h 5. c 7. a 9. f 3. adjective 7. adjective
2. g 4. j 6. b 8. d 10. i 4. noun 8. noun

Reading Role-Play

Have students read the article out loud or to themselves. Put students in pairs and have them come up with a little skit.
Review any difficult vocabulary. Invite students to present their skits in front of the class.
Encourage students to use new vocabulary from the reading.
Comprehension
Writing 
1. F – A hug should last at least six seconds.
2. T
Individual answers.
3. F – A sense of accomplishment from
a deadline can make us happy.
SPELLING NOTE:
4. F – The reading says a hug should last at least six seconds.
5. T This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practice.
Other English-speaking countries spell it this way: Practise
(when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a
challenge for your students to find this word in the lesson and
see if they know the alternate spelling.

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