PARENTING

BABIES DON’T COME WITH DIRECTIONS!

WebQuest for Parenting and Child Development Classes

Prepared by Stow High School Family and Consumer Science Department

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

You just arrived home from the hospital with your newborn baby.  You want to be a good parent and do the things that will encourage the development of a happy, healthy child.  How do you decide what to do?  How can you learn the skills to become a good parent?  How do you avoid those situations that possibly might lead to child abuse?  Please read the following areas completely before you begin.

The Task

·        When finished with this assignment you will have become an expert in one of the following areas:

·        Identifying the characteristics of a good parent

·        Identifying personal parenting strengths

·        Understanding the needs of a newborn baby

·        Knowing how to create a positive environment for a developing child

·        Identifying the factors that contribute to child abuse

·        How to give a newborn baby a bath

·        How to provide proper nutrition for a growing child

·        Positive ways to discipline a child

·        How to select books for a child

·        Rainy day activities for children

·        Understanding the handicapped or exceptional child

·        How to treat childhood medical emergencies

·        Common childhood diseases

·        Creating a learning environment for children

·        How to be a father

·        Accepting the responsibilities of parenting

Goal:    Select one of the topics. Prepare a handbook that consists of at least four pages.  This handbook should serve as a guide for new parents.  Included in this book should be text that addresses one of the above topics.  In addition at least twoof the pages should have illustrations.  These illustrations should not be more than ¼ of the total page surface.  This handbook should be prepared with a title page, which should also be illustrated.  Include a bibliography page that lists a minimum of three resources that new parents could access if they have further questions. 

The Process

·        You will work with a partner on the development of this handbook.

·        The text, using a standard 14 font, title page, with a larger font, and bibliography will be typed

·        You must save your work on your own disk

·        Pages may be designed using lists or written text, but if a list is used, it must be headed with a paragraph of information that explains why the list is useful

·        You and your partner will research the topic using the library or classroom resources

·        You will have five class periods in the library for this research.

·        You will select only one topic to research

·        You will work by yourself if your partner is absent continuing the research until your partner returns

·        You will submit the finished work on the due date

·        You will understand how this project is to be graded.

Goal:  To complete this task so that the information is pertinent and useful.  The brochure will be neatly typed and illustrations were added in a creative manner.

Resources

Seek information using the following resources.  Remember, you can use the web as well as library and classroom resources, too, that are available for your use.

·        Use the following search sites:

·        http://parenting.org/ - Parenting skills, discipline

·        http://www.dearparents.com/ - Parents and technology

·        http://family.go.com/ - Activities, babies, food, education, parenting

·        http://www.familyeducation.com/home/ - resources for parent/child involvement activities

·        http://www.theideabox.com/ - Early childhood educational ideas

·        http://amomslove.com - Advice and support for at-home and working moms

·        http://www.fathers.com/ - Addresses the issues of how dads can actively participate in child rearing

·        http://npin.org/ - All kinds of parenting information

·        http://www.netmom.com/ - Parenting newsletter

·        http://www.parentsoup.com/ - Every kind of parenting information imaginable

·        http://www.php.com/ - Resources for families with special needs

·        http://www.parentsplace.com/  - Practical information for parents

·        http://www.stepfamily.net/ - Resources for blended families

·        http://parentech.org/ - Educational resources for parents

·        http://www.disciplinehelp.com/ - How to discipline children

·        http://www.barrysclipart.com – free clip art

·        http://www.altavista.com

·        http://www.askjeeves.com

·        http://www.dogpile.com

Goal:  You will become familiar with knowing where to go to get information to accomplish the assigned task.

Evaluation

Students will be graded as follows:

Please obtain a grading sheet from the teacher.  The grading sheet contains all of the grading criteria as listed below. 

Brochure points:

          Brochure consisted of a title page, 4 pages of text, and a bibliography

          Brochure contained 3 illustrations in the text and the title page also

          was illustrated

          Text contained fewer than 4 spelling or grammatical errors

          Brochure was neatly bound

            Content was pertinent and useful

          Content sufficiently covered the topic

TOTAL BROCHURE POINTS:  20

POINTS EARNED:

Explanation of points:

PARTNER POINTS:

My partner took an active role in helping research the topics.

My partner keep research materials organized and available

If I was absent, my partner took the initiative and continued working on the material

My partner worked with me contributing his/her fair share of the research

TOTAL PARTNER POINTS:  10

POINTS MY PARTNER EARNED:

Explanation of points:

TOTAL POINTS EARNED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:  ______/30     

Goal:  Your brochure’s information was informative and able to be easily used by parents seeking the answers to important parenting questions.        

Conclusion

·        Parents sometimes are overwhelmed by the responsibilities of parenting.  People who face the parenting challenge welcome any useful information.  The parents in the GRADS program will use your brochure.  This program is designed to help high school students balance school and parenting.  Your brochure will be put to good use as a resource by people who are currently facing the parenting challenge.