Building Academic Skills
11. Social Studies. Describe traditional customs reflecting your
individual national ancestry or cultural background. What meaning
does your family fi nd in passing these traditions down from one
generation to the next? What family priorities may be reflected in
the traditions? Prepare a presentation of your fi ndings to share with
the class.
12. Reading. Using Internet or print sources, read three articles about
the influence of peers on the personality development of teens.
Contrast positive and negative peer pressure. In small groups,
discuss your fi ndings.
13. Math. Keep track of your spending for one week. Record all of your
purchases and how much you spend on each purchase. Be sure to
record any money you spend on food and entertainment. Record
any money you receive or save as well. At the end of the week, total
your income, savings, and expenses. How responsible are you with
your money?
14. Writing. Write a one-page report summarizing television programs
or movies that depict various types of environments provided by
families. Identify one situation you believe represents positive
family functioning. Identify another situation you feel represents
negative family functioning. Explain the reasons for your choices.
Check your report for correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Linking to Technology
15. Using Internet sources, research articles or reports about media
violence. What technological options are available for parents to
protect their children from exposure to media influences? Using
word processing software, prepare a report describing how you
think media violence influences a child’s personality development.
Be sure to cite any sources you may use for the report. Add a copy
of the report to your portfolio.
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Part One Personal Development