Students create a useful guide for early adolescents who are home alone or baby-sitting siblings.
What You Need
- reference materials such as phone books, cookbooks, game guides, and so forth
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pamphlets (optional)
- computer or word processor
What to Do
- Brainstorm with students a list of topics that might be helpful for students who must care for themselves or siblings during part of the day. This list may include the following items:
- important personal and emergency phone numbers
- general safety tips (locking doors, not revealing information on the phone, and so forth)
- “What to Do” rules in case of fire
- basic first-aid guidelines
- emergency supplies
- “no cooking needed” snacks
- age-appropriate activities for younger children
- Split the class into groups. Allow each group to select one relevant topic to research and share with the class. Research may include reading, interviews with police or firefighters, Internet searches, and so forth.
- When the research is complete, have each group write a chapter for the guide. Each chapter should include a title and helpful information in a readable, organized format. Suggest that students include illustrations that help readers understand the text. Groups may exchange chapters for revision and editing. When the guide is complete, prepare a copy for each class member.
- Publish additional copies to sell for a school fundraiser.
- Have students illustrate individual covers for each copy of the guide.