Research on Children in Schools

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How to Make a Happy School

Find out what makes your school happy!

This unique and free outreach project assists young children in developing their scientific knowledge as well as their social and emotional literacy through exploring what makes a happy school.

Welcome to the University of Kent School of Psychology’s investigation into Happiness: “How to Make a Happy School”.

This research project is designed to assist young children develop their scientific research skills as well as their social and emotional literacy, helping them to build up their ability to form strong social relationships, empathise with others and discover more about themselves. It is primarily aimed at Years 4, 5 and 6.

The programme is led by Dr. Lindsey Cameron and her team, designed to explore questions such as:

  1. What is happiness?
  2. How do you measure happiness?
  3. What makes YOU happy?

In this one-of-a-kind research project, students are encouraged to take on the role of a “Scientist of Happiness”, investigating happiness in relation to their own school experience from a scientific perspective. Interactive and engaging activities will encourage students to think about scientific measurement, data collection as well as other important scientific skills.

 

At the University of Kent, we are interested in finding out how children think and feel about the world around them. School is an integral part of that world, and a lot of potential for joy and happiness can arise from a typical school day.

“How to Make a Happy School” in FIVE fun steps:

The day kicks off with an interactive and engaging assembly discussing the science of happiness, delivered by an expert with an emphasis on real-world happiness research.

Back in the classroom, students create their own happiness survey questions, supported by a team of professionally trained researchers.

 

Researchers create a professional survey using the questions and response scales designed by the students themselves.

Survey completion (optional): The survey is shared back with the school and can be completed by the children online or on paper copies.

Analysis of the data and findings (optional), developing data handling skills, presentation and interpretation of findings e.g. in tally charts, graphs and pie-charts. This is led by teachers supported by further resources provided by researchers.

Each component seeks to be a fun and exciting way of getting students involved with science, probing their curiosity and encouraging them to ask questions about the world around them.

Students enjoy exploring a well-known topic such as happiness in a different way, alongside the creativity involved with generating their own survey questions, and seeing those embedded in a professional questionnaire.

Teachers also note that the day provides students with transferrable skills that can be used again in other subjects, and encourages them to think about their peers as well as themselves.

Quotation

Gives them a chance to think about others and what makes others happy – not just themselves.

Teacher
Year 5

This opportunity is offered for FREE and is part of a range of outreach projects carried out by the University to build partnerships with schools within the local area. The Happy Schools project has previously been successfully delivered to various primary schools in Kent, and has been well-received by children and teachers alike.

If you are interested in involving your child’s school in our fun and informative educational programme, please contact Dr. Lindsey Cameron and her team at happyschools@kent.ac.uk or L.Cameron@kent.ac.uk for more information!

Quotation

"This was the best day ever!"

Pupil
Year 6