Lystra M. Richardson
This yearlong unit examines images of the American family during the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to exploring the basic societal functions of the family, it focuses on the evolving roles and structures of the American family from early 19th century to present.
From the perspective as the basic unit in the societal structure, the family will be examined for its universal aspects, its varying definitions, and changing attitudes and values, as well as its roles including socializing, educating, religious, economic and political. It also includes a look at the pioneer family as the basis from which the popular American concept of the ideal family was established during the pioneer period, with emphasis on the shift from rural agrarian life to urban industrialized life.
From a historical point of view, attention is drawn to the major shift that occurred in family structure around the period of the American Revolution: Whereas the family was a productive unit with the work space attached to or included within the house, by the middle of the 19th century, home and work had been separated and the family was seen as a defense against the intrusions of a material world.
The unit also investigates the process of development of family values, family unity, causes and effects of crises within families, and the role of employment and money as they set the stage for many features of family life.
Classification of families into upperclass, middle-class and lowerclass as well as ethnic and cultural diversities in family life are also looked at.
Viewed as the most deeply rooted institution in the United States, the family will be examined for all its ramifications and relevance to students today. Of particular importance will be the individual characteristics and personality factors in the interplay among family members as they seek to satisfy personal needs within the family, while maintaining the family as a group, but at the same time keeping their individuality without complete submergence in the family.
At this stage of their lives, 7th graders are experiencing tremendous growth, physically, psychologically, and mentally. Their questions, probing and important as they are, are in many cases never asked or at times never answered. One such important question is: Who am I? or Where do I fit in? This unit addresses this very question in an indirect way. By looking at the issue of family as the world, the community, the school and the household as family, students will be better able to understand who they are in relation to their community and the world at large.
Their position/role in the family, as adolescents is of prime importance. Parent/child relationships will also be explored to help students understand that their ambivalence to parents and/or other family members is part of the growing up stage and that conflict is common to families.
Using a variety of activities, students will think critically about themselves, their families and the world. Activities enable students to decide what’s fact and what’s myth about the idealized American family. Eventually, they will use their imaginations to predict/explore the kinds of lives they will like to live—the families they will like to have.
A whole language approach will be used to integrate all facets of the curriculum unit. In addition to studying 19th and 20th century family life in literature, students will:
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observe their own families as well as families in the community, families on TV and other popular media.
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make family trees and uses historical facts and images to recreate or imagine the lives of their ancestors.
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trace their family history.
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illustrate or make collages of their families.
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write poems about families.
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interview older family members.
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write a research paper on some aspect of the family.
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debate a family life issue.
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read and discuss three books about family.
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explore myths in American family life through art.
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predict, through story writing, 21st century family life.
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In all of these activities, students are actively involved in the exploration of a topic. They discuss and share as they expand their learning. Cooperative learning groups will be used extensively.
Curriculum goals and objectives are matched to the students’ own interest, that is, their natural curiosity about themselves and their heritage, how and where they fit in, in the family, community and the world at large. It includes diverse opportunities for students to see reading and writing as useful tools for thinking and learning. In the process, students become skilled users of language and more confident about themselves.
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.
First Marking Period: September through November
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Initial discussion about family, its functions, definitions, types etc.
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Students make family trees and conduct interviews for oral reports.
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Begin reading
By The Shores of Silver Lake
by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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Poetry writing.
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Book report due end of marking period.
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Second Marking Period: November through January
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Further discussion of the family: conflicts, roles of children, how values are transmitted.
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Students begin research for debate.
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Students begin evaluation of images of family life as portrayed in the media including television shows, magazines and commercials.
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Debate takes place at the end of this marking period.
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Students begin reading
To Kill a Mocking Bird
by Harper Lee.
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Third Marking Period: February through April
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Continue reading
To Kill a Mocking Bird
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Begin research paper on some aspect of the family, for example, “The Demise of Family Traditions,” “The Changing Roles of Men and Women,” “The Effects of the Women’s Movement on the Family.”
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Book report due at the end of this marking period.
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Fourth Marking Period: April to June
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Begin reading
Tiger Eyes
by Judy Blume.
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Research papers due.
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Students work in cooperative learning groups for storywriting project. Drawing on factual information about the family, which were learned throughout the unit, students will synthesize their Learning by writing stories about the family. They will also utilize aspects of literature including theme, plot, setting, character development etc. Students will also, during this marking period, focus on all the images of American family life. They will explore the many pressures society places on the family and that the family places on its members. This will foster an awareness of the work/effort it takes to make a family work. At this point, students will also examine their lives and where they fit in, in their immediate family, the community and the world.
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The final project, cooperative group story writing, brings together the entire unit. Answering questions such as what is a family, the project enables students to synthesize all the material covered during the year. It allows them to construct and evaluate their own theories about the family as well as to predict how they will like their families to be. At this point, they will also be able to distinguish between myth and reality in terms of family life.
Students will present their group stories orally and explain/interpret the significant elements of family life that are incorporated in their stories. They will also explain their themes, settings, plots etc.
At the end of the school year, students will share their scrapbooks and how their perceptions may have been changed or reinforced throughout the year.
