Billionaire Boy - Money vs. Happiness!

This fun and informative lesson helps students to understand two of the key themes throughout David Walliams ‘Billionaire Boy:’ money and happiness. Students explore Joe’s happiness, before then producing their own writing to argue piece on the topic of whether they believe money can buy happiness.

The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through:
-Considering what they would buy if they were a billionaire, and detailing this through a mind-map!
- Reading and understanding extracts from the opening section of Billionaire Boy, in which Joe’s wealth and unhappiness is detailed;
- Identifying and analysing Walliams’s use of devices to demonstrate Joe’s unhappiness;
- Writing their own arguments (using a help-sheet and model examples for influence) about whether they think money can buy happiness;
- Self assessing their own learning attempts.

Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive;
- ‘Joe’s Unhappiness’ Worksheet (and answer sheet);
- Writing to Argue Help-sheet;
- Billionaire Mind-Map (and PDF version);
- Comprehensive lesson plan.

There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with a mixed-ability year 7 class, however colleagues have used them for between years 3 and 9 with some adaptations.

All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.