Content Area: Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills

 

Index: 9.2A Grade 8 CPI 4

 

Standard: 9.2 - Consumer, Family, and Life Skills

 

Strand: A - Critical Thinking

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 4 -  The student will recognize bias, vested interest, stereotyping, and the manipulation and misuse of information.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·       Although New Jersey is well known as the Garden State, it certainly could be recognized as the Invention State. We now live in an increasing complex "global society" with demands for increased invention, design, and manufacturing to make people's lives and work more productive while meeting personal and family needs.

 

·       Buy Me That

 

·       Students complete the "I message" worksheet.  Describe the importance of "I messages" in communications.  How does it help clear up conflicts?

 

·       Students collect pictures of verbal and non-verbal communications.  Discuss the examples and label whether the examples are constructive or destructive.  Lead into a discussion of

 

    Constructive Messages:

    ·       Make an effort to understand what the other person is saying;

    ·       Encourage the other person to talk;

    ·       Accept the other person and his/her right to a different opinion;

    ·       Keep an open mind to new ideas;

    ·       Send clear, accurate messages;

    ·       Indicate your feelings; and

    ·       Say what you mean, mean what you say.

 

    Destructive Messages:

    ·       Prejudice;

    ·       Put-downs;

    ·       Blaming others;

    ·       Threats;

    ·       Nervous motions; and

    ·       Belittling comments.

 

·       Complete the activity entitled "Listeners Requires Concentration."

 

·       Complete the activity entitled "Group Building Projects."

 

·       Read and discuss the sheets related to say "no" and feel good and five ways to say no.