Life
An Internet WebQuest on Children

created by Nancy M. Bucher
Eastern Lebanon County High School

Introduction | The Task | The Process & Resources | Conclusion | HyperText Dictionary


Introduction

We are going to do activities that will help you to better raise a child.

Your have been selected as the newest member of the TV show 'Real World'. Your family includes a small child who is your responsibility. You need to meet all it's need. All members of the 'Real World Family' works outside the home. Two of you work at the county social services office and the rest at a local day care center.


The Quest

Your task is to research the needs of an age group and to find the most important considerations when raising a child of that age.


The Process and Resources

1. The class will be divided into groups of 4/5 and each team will choose an area of study. The areas are Infant (Birth-One); Infant (18-24 months); Toddler ( age 2 ); Preschool (ages 3 & 4).

2. Each person in the group will select their role in the family from the descriptions below. This will determine your personal area of study.

3. Begin research using the Internet resources which are sorted by area of study.

4. Be sure to document each source according to the ELCO research guidelines.

5. Discuss your findings together and decide on the information that best meets your task.

6. As a group, using the most important information from each area, create a visual that will help others to better raise a child of this age group.

7. As a group decide on a newsletter name. Each member will individually create an edition of the newsletter for the public.Your newsletter should elaborate on the important information from your personal area of study.
 
 

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to collect your data. Don't print out or copy all the information. You must summurize what you read, and may take hand or electronic notes. These will be handed in at the end of the period.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

Each person must choose one of the following roles:

PJ - works at the local social service office and has a deep interest in the physical and mental development of the child.

TJ - also works at the social service office but is concerned with the overall health and safety of the child.

AJ - works at the day care center in the kitchen and is concerned with the food and nutrition of the children.

OJ -is the acting director of the day care center and is interested in giving the best possible care they can give, as well as the social development of the child

AO - this person only exists if there are five in a group and they will follow the OJ references. They are concerned with the general care of the child.

PJ

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to PJ:

1. What basic development is taking place and how can you foster its growth?

2. What are the special physical and mental needs of this age group?

TJ

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to TJ:

1.What health issues are pertinent to this age group.

2. What must be done to assure the child of your age is safe at all times? Indoors and out and about.

3. What criteria is important when selecting toys for this age group?

AJ

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to AJ:

1. What are the basic needs for your age and how are they best accomplished?

2. What are the most important issues in feeding your age group?

3. Does your age group need a snack, and if so, what are some good snacks?

OJ

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to OJ:

1.What social develpment can be expected at this age and how can a parent foster it?

2. What should a parent look for in a child care center?

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about different areas of children. Now, as a group, decide what information best meets the criteria set forth in your task. Remember to listen to everyone's ideas. Your WebQuest team should write out a list of considerations to be used for the final projects.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Select a member of the faculty that has a child of your age group or Mrs. Wherly the Child Care teacher.

2. Invite this person to visit our room and judge your visual and newsletter.

3. Provide them with a means for offering feedback.

Your Contact is: the designated contact


Conclusion

So is an elephant smooth, rough, soft, or hard? Well, when you're blindfolded and only *looking* at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right. It's the same for understanding a topic as broad or complex as children: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of children could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops. You are in the real world now!

created by Filamentality Content by Nancy M. Bucher, nbucher@elcosd.org
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webchildrenna.html
Last revised Thu Jul 19 10:22:18 US/Pacific 2001