IlluminatingIdeas About Aging
A WebQuest for Middle School Students
Created by: Chris Shoup
Illuminating
Ideas About Aging
A WebQuest for Middle School Students
Created by: Chris Shoup
"There is no secret, no magic formula. A good old age doesn't come about from some special talent or as a secret gift. It comes about when, given a basic income, reasonable health, good self-esteem and a little energy, a person sets out to discover a meaningful life for him or herself." --Dr. Mark Novak
Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion
You live in a world that idolizes youth and everything new!
Young music stars, young movie stars, and young models promote new foods and new drinks, new technologies, new clothes and new cars!!!
But wait a minute...wait just one minute.
Isn't the world more than just young adults and new, new, new !?
You will learn about aging, and about a fast-growing population that is increasingly being pushed behind the scenes of everyday life: older adults.
As you journey forward, you will:
investigate views of aging and older adults.
create an enriched activity schedule for a senior living community.
initiate a 'Grandletters' project with a local senior-living community.
Form groups of two. You and your partner will work together during this WebQuest.
Part One
Print the attached Guide Sheet that accompanies Illuminating Ideas About Aging.
Question: How do you refer to someone who is 75, 85, or 95 years old?
Go to the National Academy for Teaching and Learning about Aging, scroll to the middle of the page, and read the article titled, 'What do you call older people?'Use the Aging Information links in the Resources section to answer the Aging Successfully questions on your GUIDE sheet.
You are writing an article for The New York Times about the artwork of Anne Eldredge Harris. Anne is an older adult who is successfully aging. What are three positive, descriptive words that you would use in your article to describe Anne's artwork? View Anne's website: Welcome to the Studio of Anne Eldredge Harris
- Healthy older adults sometimes choose to leave their homes and enjoy the comforts of a senior-living community. Sometimes older adults who need help cooking and cleaning, dressing and bathing, or need help with health issues or medications move into a senior-living community.
The two of you will lead a group of volunteers during an afternoon of enriched activities at a local senior-living community. You must research activity ideas--such as crafts, cooking, games, social gatherings, etc. and plan your afternoon schedule. Use the Recreational Activity Resource links in the Resources section and describe your finalized activity schedule on your GUIDE sheet.Part Three - Class Project - 'Grandletters'
- Working as a class with your teacher, reference your local phone book for a listing of area senior-living communities. Every student is to think of one question they would like to ask an older adult. Then, use the included form letter to help your class make contact with the Activity Director of a selected senior-living community, and initiate a 'Grandletters' program!
A great reference to help you learn about aging. Check out the 'CyberTour'!
LinkAge 2000Quick reference of things that will help you age successfully...
Aging Texas Well - A Positive Aging Overview !Hear what scientists have to say about aging successfully!
Successfully Aging Through Your 50th to 100th Year !If you scroll down through this article, you'll find some first-hand accounts of older adults expressing their honest feelings about growing old (successfully!)
Meaning of Life and Death in Successful AgingTips for aging successfully - Now is the time to start aging successfully!
The Benefits For A Healthy Lifestyle For Aging Successfully!Recreational Activity Resources
What is meant by 'enriched' activities?
10 Positive Activity PrinciplesA huge and awesome list of Activity Ideas!
Activities Ideas and SpecialtiesScroll down and you'll see a very comprehensive list of 'brainstormed' activity ideas!
Recreational Activity IdeasYou can find craft projects galore at the Makestuff website!
Makestuff.com
The GUIDE sheet was completed in full. The pictures that were created were attached to the sheet. (3 POINTS)
The student partners worked together to reach their answers. They used the included resource links. If necessary they asked questions. (3 POINTS)
The students participated in the 'Grandletters' project by sharing their questions and offering ideas for the project. (3 POINTS)
8-9 POINTS = A
6-7 POINTS = B
4-5 POINTS = C
3 POINTS = D
Great Job! You've increased your understanding of the aging process, which is an important process of life!
It is hard to have positive views of aging and older adults if you have little contact with grandparents or older adults…but having a positive view of aging and older adults is very important! To think of aging and older adults in a negative way is a destructive practice, because we all begin to age the very day we are born!
