PRE-PROJECT SURVEY
"WHAT I THINK ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE"

OVERVIEW:

The student will be presented with statements about older people and record whether he/she agrees or disagrees with each statement.

Students will share their answers with the class and chart the group answers.

Appropriate for Grade Level: K-3 (May be adapted for older students.)

OBJECTIVES:

Students will:
  • Become aware of their attitudes toward aging and older people.
  • Interpret data gathered from a survey.

VOCABULARY

  • OPINION
    Something that you think is true.

  • SURVEY
    To gather information from or about.

MATERIALS

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ACTIVITY

  1. Explain to the students the class will be taking a survey to see what opinions they have about older people.
  2. Review the meaning of the words "survey" and "opinion" with the students.
  3. Explain that there are no "right" or "wrong" answers to a survey. Each student will have his/her own opinion about what they believe to be true.
  4. Read the questions on the "What I Think About Older People" handout to the class, one question at a time.
  5. Allow students time to think about the question and circle their answer before moving to the next question.
  6. Generate group discussion, encouraging students to share their answers and the reasons they believe their opinion to be correct.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

  • Use a large sheet of paper to chart/graph students answers.

  • Discuss the results of the class chart/graph. What does the data collected tell us?

  • Share one or both of the following books dealing with the things an older character can and cannot do any longer to the class: (See Reading List for ISBN information and review of the stories.)
    • Can You Do This, Old Badger? by Eve Bunting
    • Verdi by Jannel Cannon

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National Science Education Standards - Standard A - Science as Inquiry, Standard F - Science in Personal and Social Perspectives