Activity Introduction
“Happiness hides in little things.”
What is a little thing that makes you happy? The kids in the book, Where Happiness Hides, find happiness in things like a big bowl of warm soup and the smell of rain. You might find happiness in a hug from an adult or your favourite piece of fruit. Draw yourself enjoying your little happiness and write about why it makes you happy.
Some kids will be able to work on this activity with minimal support.
Ideal for: Lower Primary Ages 5 – 7
Themes:
- be creative
Time required: 30 minutes
Curriculum connections: English, Visual Arts, Personal and Social Capability
Your kid/s may need you to write (lightly in pencil) the sentence they tell you, so they can then trace over the letters.
Ask your kid/s:
- What makes you happy?
- What are some things you can do when you’re feeling sad?
- What are some things you like to do together?
Share with your kid/s things that make you happy, so they can empathise and think beyond themselves. Choose a few things you like to do together with your kid/s so they realise they are loved and paid attention to.
Encourage you kid/s to focus away from material objects for happiness such as getting a new toy or playing video games. Refer back to the book and how the kids in the story draw happiness from being outside, experiences and small comforts. Encourage kids to focus on similar things in their own lives.
- Art supplies: coloured pencils, markers, paint, scissors, glue
- White paper
- Writing pencil
- Where Happiness Hides ebook
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[email protected] resources are designed for parents and teachers to use with children in the home environment. They can be used as stand-alone activities or built into existing curriculum-aligned learning programs. Our [email protected] series includes two types of resources. The first are fun and challenging real-world activities for all ages, the second are self-directed lessons for upper primary and secondary students. These lessons support independent learning in remote or school settings.
About the book.
Where Happiness Hides, a picture book by Anthony Bertini, with illustrations by Jennifer Goldsmith. This is a story that shows there is a silver lining in every dark cloud. Anthony Bertini himself explains the project beautifully:
“This book will offer hope. It will be free to everyone in the world to read and enjoy as many times as they want. Yes, it is a children’s picture-book, and the story reflects what we tell our children every day: happiness can be found in simple things. But it is more than that. It is something we tell ourselves in times of hardship and worry. It is a story that helps all of us remember what is important.
“Right now, COVID-19 is forcing us to look for joy and happiness in the least obvious places. We know in our hearts that it is found in the small things. It is always there, hidden in plain sight.”
Where Happiness Hides offers us, through simple and succinct storytelling, a reminder of how these moments of happiness can be found.
Thanks to the publisher, Dirt Lane Press, you can now receive free shipping (normally $12) by ordering the book directly through the Dirt Lane Press book shop by clicking here and entering the coupon code 8BQF7MD during the checkout process.
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Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
