The unit runs from September through June. In addition to all the other activities, throughout the year, students will keep a scrapbook in which they will record comments, personal insights, ideas, pictures etc. about the American family. Scrapbooks will be checked at the end of each marking period. Scrapbooks will serve the purpose of continuity from one marking period to the next, from one topic to the next and also as a form of synthesis of all the concepts studied throughout the year. Initial discussion about family, its functions, definitions, types etc.
Students make family trees and conduct interviews for oral reports.
Begin reading By The Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Book report due end of marking period. Students begin research for debate. Students begin evaluation of images of family life as portrayed in the media including television shows, magazines and commercials. Debate takes place at the end of this marking period.