Growing UP!!! Student Project

This project is currently used as a summative project for a Family Consumer/Social Science course for high school level students. The possibilities for applying this project cross-curricular are endless! Project “Growing UP” features the sections listed below, while placing focus on relationships, parenting and adulthood. Additionally, students analyze just how much “babies” cost in terms of expenses (feeding, diapers & other merchandise). Students complete a section on budgeting, where they research and fill out expense tables and then incorporate these costs into their other daily life expenses. The project winds up with a final reflective journal component, where students reflect on their own development, what it means to have a family, healthy relationships and how all of this brings about change to their lives.

1. Role Models – Students select a role model/influential person in their life and reflect on how their experience with this individual help shaped who they are today. This task offers students choice of presenting their finished project in a variety of forms (written/oral/artistic representation). Idea web included!

2. Childhood Interviews – Students conduct an interview with parent/guardians & grandparents (if applicable) then provide responses of their own. Product provides 3 generations of responses, which students then compile and reflect on in a PowerPoint, poster, pamphlet, or write-up.

3.

• A: Schedule & Reflection – Students are told that they are now in (hypothetical) possession of a 4-month-old. They create a name for their new bundle of joy and then create a day-in-the-life of a parent with a baby for 1 week (based on sibling experiences and research). They reflect on their schedule in a reflection. Helpful Website links and guided exemplar sentences are provided for students.
• B: Budgeting – After students complete research and put together a listing of baby expenses for their new addition (4-month-old) in two provided tables, they enter this data into a formulated Excel document. Students are also required to conduct research on further related costs
• C: Raising Your Child
• D: JOURNAL ENTRY

Items included in ZIP Folder:

(1) Final Assignment – Growing Up (Student handout – 23 pages)

(2) Student Handout Template (Day Schedule for weekly record – 1 page)

(3) EXCEL document - Student monthly budget (students plug in own info, template computes automatically)

(4) Teacher Marking Sheet Template – 2 pages)

All above documents are fully editable and can be easily amended to suit your student’s needs.

The duration of this project varies but can be +1 week or longer.

Enjoy! And Happy Teaching!