OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on money and happiness offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for intermediate B1–B2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss common beliefs about money and happiness and explore what money can and can’t buy.
• Expand their vocabulary around abstract ideas like freedom, comfort, security, and responsibility.
• Watch a short animated video that breaks down the connection between wealth and emotional well-being.
• Learn and practice correlative comparative structures such as “The more…, the more…” and “The less…, the more…” in context.
• Create and discuss their own comparison statements about life, money, and happiness in a personalized speaking activity.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this ESL lesson on money and happiness by discussing common sayings and ideas about money and happiness using symbolic equations (e.g., “Money → Happiness” or “Happiness > Money”). They explain their opinions and explore what more money may lead to, choosing from ideas like “freedom,” “greed,” or “security.” Then, they consider a set of fact-or-fiction statements about income levels and happiness, debating which they believe to be true and why. Students also explore short-lived versus long-lasting happiness, deciding which experiences money can and cannot buy. Finally, they reflect on free things that brought them happiness compared to purchases that made them feel satisfied, setting the stage for the video and target language.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a short animated explainer video that explores how money affects happiness. The video discusses studies, expert opinions, and concepts like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, extrinsic vs. intrinsic values, and insights from figures like Bill Gates. In the first task, students answer five short-answer comprehension questions about what the video says regarding money, needs, and happiness trends. In the second task, they complete a listening gap-fill chart distinguishing between extrinsic and intrinsic happiness. The missing phrases highlight that extrinsic rewards like wealth and status bring short-term joy, while intrinsic goals such as purpose and relationships generate deeper, longer-lasting satisfaction.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

Students reflect on the ideas from the video in a guided discussion, sharing which ideas resonated with them and why. They describe their own experiences with intrinsic and extrinsic forms of happiness and consider how more money might impact their lives. Next, they analyze five comparative statements related to money, time, and responsibility, identifying how the “the more…, the more…” structure is used. After discussing the meaning of each idea, they practice rewriting cause-effect statements using correlative comparisons and then express agreement or disagreement with each one, explaining their reasoning in conversation.

THE MORE… THE MORE? CORRELATIVE CONVERSATIONS

In the final stage, students personalize the target language through two conversation activity options. In Option A, they write three to five of their own correlative comparison sentences using suggested prompts and themes like technology, lifestyle, and work. They then share their sentences with a partner or teacher, exchanging opinions and discussing each one. In Option B, students read and react to a set of thought-provoking generalizations using the target structure. They discuss whether they agree or disagree with ideas like “The more you compare yourself to others, the worse you feel,” encouraging deeper thought and fluent speaking practice on meaningful topics.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS MONEY AND HAPPINESS ESL LESSON PLAN

This money and happiness ESL lesson plan encourages students to think critically about real-life topics while practicing functional grammar in depth. It helps learners develop fluency by prompting meaningful conversation and personal reflection. Teachers get a complete package that smoothly combines vocabulary development, grammar practice, and listening comprehension. Students engage with thought-provoking material that’s relevant to everyday life and their values. The final activation activity gives students a flexible way to use target language with confidence, accuracy, and creativity.