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By putting teens at the center of this Importance of Family lesson (the first in the Healthy Foundations for Future Families curriculum set), this lesson facilitates students’ decision-making skills as they identify and prioritize family, life, and career goals. 

Starting in their comfort zone, teens are given an opportunity to imagine all their personal wishes (career, travel, family, home, car, even pets!). Teens will think about their future legacy and work through exercises to help them anticipate specific ages for starting a family along with their other life plans.

Teens will find their own personal and powerful rationale for a healthy family and parenting skills. Teens will also consider how their childhood experiences are valuable “life lessons” which can inform how they intend to raise their own family.  Because teens are “experts” on the parenting behaviors they have experienced, this thought exercise enhances teens’ feelings of competence for future parenting.  For many teens, this lesson is also an opportunity to recognize any inter-generational cycles of family dysfunction they hope to break.

Students will do these activities

• Analyze expectations and responsibilities of parenting
• Envision goals for their future home and family life
• Create a personal plan to achieve their goals
• Identify positive and negative influences

Students will learn

• A definition of “family” from U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
• How to transform hopes into goals by creating a plan with stepping stones
• Ways in which behaviors, people and past experiences can bring them closer or pull them away from their goals
• For change to happen, it takes effort and courage to develop new ways of thinking and behaving

This is the centerpiece of the Healthy Foundations series of lessons!

The dreams that students envision become their emotional motivation for learning and skill-building.

The goals they set will serve as a context for future decision-making.

• Instructor’s Guide – Includes supplemental lesson activities, and tips for differentiated learning & inclusion
• “Goals for Family” Workbook (6 pages) – PDF file with fillable fields, also printable. Includes brief overview of Maslow’s Hierarchy.
• PowerPoint slides (42 PPT slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning. Compatible with Google Classrooms.
• Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ digital version links in Instructor’s Guide and PPT Slides

You will be able to guide students to evaluate complex reasons why people choose to become parents in this Purpose of Parenting lesson (the second in the Healthy Foundations for Future Families curriculum set). Students will also analyze healthy and unhealthy reasons in terms of family wellbeing. Several avenues to parenthood are discussed. Acknowledging the large percent of pregnancies that are unintended, an important goal of this lesson is to help teens be more intentional in how and why they begin their parenting journey.

As teens explore their potential motives, they will be able to clarify their purpose and assess whether their expectations are realistic and have considered the needs of a child. When students explore the option of not becoming a parent, deeper insights often emerge about their personal desire (or lack thereof) for parenting. In moving their subconscious desires to conscious evaluation, teens are also developing communication skills for sharing their thoughts with a future partner.

The most powerful part of this lesson is recognizing that family satisfies a basic human desire for belonging. Loneliness is a common concern for adolescents, especially as they begin to anticipate separating from their family of origin. Validating both their concerns and their desire to ultimately build their own family, this lesson includes an exercise to help teens surface ideas about how they can meet their need for belonging during the upcoming years before they have the resources and ability to care for a child.

Students will do these activities

• Reflect on life goals and how parenting might (or might not) fit in their plans
• Analyze expectations and responsibilities of parenting
• Consider how they would feel if they were childless and what that reveals about their parenting motives
• Identify personal values and purpose as they visualize their own parenting journey.

Students will learn

• Percent of US pregnancies that are unplanned in the US
• A variety of paths to parenthood and other family formations
• The number of years parents are legally obligated to provide care for a child
• Other teens’ thoughts and opinions on parenting
• Healthy motives for parenting and how to consider the needs of all family members

• “Purpose for Parenting” Workbook (3 pages) – PDF file with fillable fields, also printable.
• PowerPoint slides (38 slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning. Compatible with Google Classrooms.
• Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ links for digital materials located on PPT Slides in the Zip file

This thought-provoking lesson helps teens analyze where they are in the process of developing qualities to be a “great parent.” Students will also identify and prioritize the values they would like to instill in children. Students are also given space to craft their personal vision of their dream home and family. The lesson concludes with a skill-building life skills exercise to help students understand the dynamics of daily decisions, and positive and negative influences, in relationship to their family goals.

Students will do these activities

• Analyze expectations and responsibilities of parenting
• Envision goals for their future home and family life
• Create a personal plan to achieve their goals
• Identify positive and negative influences

Students will learn

• A definition of “family” from U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
• How to transform hopes into goals by creating a plan with stepping stones
• Ways in which behaviors, people and past experiences can bring them closer or pull them away from their goals
• For change to happen, it takes effort and courage to develop new ways of thinking and behaving

• Instructor’s Guide – Includes supplemental lesson activities, and tips for differentiated learning & inclusion
• “Goals for Family” Workbook (6 pages) – PDF file with fillable fields, also printable. Includes brief overview of Maslow’s Hierarchy.
• PowerPoint slides (42 PPT slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning. Compatible with Google Classrooms.
• Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ digital version links in Instructor’s Guide and PPT Slides

These three lessons include: Importance of Family, Purpose of Parenting, and Goals for Family. Each lesson includes PPT slides, student workbook pages, and a lesson plan.

Includes information on:

• Percent of adults who become parents
• Average age when US adults have their first child
• Percent of pregnancies that are unintended
• A definition of “family” from U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
• Transforming hopes into goals by creating a plan with stepping stones

• Instructor’s Guide – Includes supplemental lesson activities, and tips for differentiated learning & inclusion
• “Goals for Family” Workbook (6 pages) – PDF file with fillable fields, also printable. Includes brief overview of Maslow’s Hierarchy.
• PowerPoint slides (42 PPT slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning. Compatible with Google Classrooms.
• Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ digital version links in Instructor’s Guide and PPT Slides

Students will do these activities

• Identify desirable characteristics of partners
• Evaluate benefits of a stable relationship for marriage, parenting, and a child’s wellbeing
• Consider the difficult choices posed by an unplanned pregnancy or separation from a co-parent
• Analyze personal needs and characteristics and their effects on interpersonal relationships
• Analyze functions and expectations of various types of relationships

Students will learn

• A definition of healthy relationships and a schema for the spectrum of relationship behaviors
• How to recognize and address unhealthy or abusive relationships
• Absentee father statistics, single parenting statistics (including international comparisons and historical trends)
• Responsibilities of both partners in pregnancy planning and prevention

• PowerPoint (51 slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning.
• “Relationships for Family” Workbook (5 pages) – PDF file with fillable fields, also printable.
• Student Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, inks to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Correlation to National Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ digital version of all materials linked on PPT Slides in the Zip file
• Instructor’s Guide (3 pages) – Based on years of experience conducting this lesson in the classroom, this document provides helpful tips for implementation: inclusion of pregnant & parenting teens, inclusion of LGBTQ+ students, additional discussion topics, classroom activity ideas, and additional resources.

Students will gain awareness of the ways in which pregnancy timing and their health habits can affect their future children. Key points are supported by a rich array of statistical data and scientific health information. Historical trends and international comparisons are included.

The lesson identifies common factors that lead to unplanned pregnancy and the vulnerability of young adults between initial fertility and adult maturity (ages 15 to 25). The perils of teen parenting are explored. Workbook exercises help students consider how they can make responsible choices with their partner. (Note: This lesson does not cover sex education or methods of pregnancy prevention. The goal is to help teens understand “why” before “how”.)

Risky health behaviors (alcohol, drugs, tobacco) are explored for their detrimental effect on preconception and prenatal health. In their workbook, teens will make a plan to address these risks and optimize positive health factors. The valuable role of male partners for enhancing and protecting maternal and child health is also discussed.

The Instructor Guide (15 pages) provides you with presentation notes, expansion topics, suggested activities, and extra information for curious teachers and students. An annotated reference section for the data sources is also included with notes and direct quotes for those who enjoy a deep dive.

Your students will be empowered with information and planning skills in this lesson to begin creating a healthy foundation for their future children and family.

Students will do these activities

• Describe how they hope to begin (or expand) their family
• Create a plan to make sure they choose the right time to start a family with a partner
• Prepare a back-up plan in the event of an unplanned pregnancy
• Assess risks of alcohol, drugs, tobacco to fetal health during preconception and prenatal periods
• Identify the steps they and their partner will take to optimize health before and during a pregnancy

Students will learn

• The ways teen parenting negatively impacts each member of the family – including percent who are single parents and percent who don’t finish high school
• Historical trends in U.S. rates of teen births and how the U.S. compares with other modern countries
• The increased likelihood of unplanned pregnancy with drug and alcohol use
• A definition of preconception health
• Stages of prenatal development
• How alcohol and tobacco affect pregnancy and fetal development, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Responsibilities of both partners in choosing the timing and optimizing health prior to pregnancy

• PowerPoint (51 slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning.
• “Timing and Health for Family” Workbook (4 pages) – PDF file with fillable fields, also printable.
• Student Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Correlation to National Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ digital version of all materials linked on PPT Slides in the Zip file
• Instructor’s Guide (17 pages) – Based on years of experience conducting this lesson in the classroom, this document provides helpful tips for implementation: full inclusion of all students, classroom activity ideas, additional discussion topics, and additional resources.

This unit includes these lessons from the Healthy Foundations for Future Families series:

• Relationships for Family (Lesson 4)
• Timing and Health for Family (Lesson 5), plus …
• BONUS: Goals for Family (Lesson 3) has been included as a prelude to the other two lessons, in case you have not already purchased it. By providing time for students to envision their ultimate family and life goals, students’ interest and engagement in Lessons 4 and 5 will be enhanced.

Students will do these activities

• Identify desirable characteristics of partners
• Evaluate benefits of a stable relationship for marriage, parenting, and a child’s wellbeing
• Consider the difficult choices posed by an unplanned pregnancy or separation from a co-parent
• Analyze personal needs and characteristics and their effects on interpersonal relationships
• Prepare a back-up plan in the event of an unplanned pregnancy
• Assess risks of alcohol, drugs, tobacco to fetal health during preconception and prenatal periods
• Identify the steps they and their partner will take to optimize health before and during a pregnancy

Students will learn

• A definition of healthy relationships and a schema for the spectrum of relationship behaviors
• How to recognize and address unhealthy or abusive relationships
• Absentee father statistics, single parenting statistics – historical trends and international comparisons
• Responsibilities of both partners in pregnancy planning and prevention
• The ways teen parenting can impact each family member – including % single parents and % who don’t finish high school
• U.S. rates of teen births – historical trends and international comparisons
• The increased risk of unplanned pregnancy with drug and alcohol use
• A definition of preconception health
• Stages of prenatal development
• The effects of alcohol and tobacco on pregnancy and fetal development, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Responsibilities of both partners in choosing the timing and optimizing health prior to pregnancy

• Slides – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning
• Student Workbooks – PDF file with fillable fields and printable, also a Google file version
• Student Lesson Plans (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Correlation to National Standards PDF
• Google Apps™ digital version of all materials linked on PPT Slides and Instructor Guides in the Zip file
• Instructor’s Guide – Provides presentation notes, activity ideas, expansion topics, and references

Information is presented with example situations relevant to teens, inviting reflection, and stimulating discussion. As students explore their own self-care, they will pivot to consider future parenting responsibilities in meeting the needs of a child.

We have designed this Overview lesson to maximize your teaching flexibility, enabling you to use:

• all the slides as a freestanding lesson, or
• a subset of slides if you are only teaching about self-care (Slides #5 to #17), or
• all the slides as an introduction to related topics.

(This mini-lesson does not include worksheets because it is an overview. Forthcoming lessons on Provide, Protect, and Nurture will provide in-depth information and include worksheets for skill-building.)

The Instructor Guide (8 pages) provides you with presentation notes, expansion topics, and a suggested activity.

Your students will be empowered with a strategic approach for addressing their needs and for meeting the needs of a child.

Students will do these activities

• Learn about human potential and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Identify different types of needs in daily life and understand the cycle of Need States
• Explore ways to meet needs through a Hierarchy of Care: Provide, Protect, and Nurture
• Consider parent responsibilities in meeting a child’s needs

Students will learn

• What “self-actualization” means in teen-friendly terms
• Types of basic needs and how they can interfere with peak performance and creativity
• A cycle of Need States using hunger as an example
• How children and adults differ in their ability to meet needs – and parenting responsibilities
• Things teens can do now to improve skills for self-care and future care of children

• PowerPoint / Google Slides (28 slides) – Suitable for teacher-led or independent student learning.
• Student Lesson Plan (1 page, editable PPT) – Overview of the lesson, editable for student instructions, due dates, links to slides and workbook files, etc.
• Curriculum Correlation to National Standards (6 pages, PDF) – Common Core, Health Education, FACS
• Google Apps™ digital version of all materials linked on PPT Slides and the Instructor Guide in the Zip file
• Instructor’s Guide (8 pages) – Based on years of experience conducting this lesson in the classroom, this document provides helpful tips for implementation: full inclusion of all students, classroom activity ideas, additional discussion topics, and additional resources.