Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Support PBS Shop PBS Search PBS
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly -- An online companion to the weekly television news program
Keyword Search
Topic Index Stories by Week
Home
Current Stories
Headlines
Election Coverage
Special Issues
TV Schedule
Calendar
Newsletter
Subscribe or unsubscribe to the E-mail Newsletter, or edit your preferences.
The Series
About the Series
Funding
Biographies
Awards
Credits
For Teachers
Overview
Lesson Plan List
Tips
Teacher Resources
Resources
Viewer's Guides
Featured Sites
Calendar
Feedback
Contact Us
Story Suggestions

For Teachers: LESSON PLAN
Read This Week's September 5, 2008
Go
Overview Lesson Plan List Tips Teacher Resources

Resistance to Parents by Erin Audia Back to Lesson Plan List

Level: Middle School
Background Procedures for Teachers Organizers for Students Print this lesson plan

Background

Overview

It's inevitable that children and teens will resist their parents from time to time. Regardless of how strong the relationship is between a parent and a child, certain rules and requests will always be met with a struggle. Most of the time, parents create rules and set boundaries that are intended to keep their children safe, healthy, and disciplined. But sometimes, parents make requests that are unreasonable, unethical, and even illegal.

In this lesson, students will consider instances in which it is reasonable for children to oppose the demands of their parents. They will discuss requests that could put children at risk of physical or emotional injury, and they will recognize instances in which a parent's demands may be read as abusive. Students will determine specific examples of unethical and irrational requests that should be met with resistance, and they will consider the ways in which a child or teen might seek help if a parent's behavior becomes burdensome or abusive. Students will explore the channels that are open to children and teens who need help dealing with the unreasonable demands of parents, and they will think about how they might help or advise a friend who is dealing with a difficult or dangerous home environment.


Grade Level:

Grades 5-8


Time Allotment:

Four to five 45-minute class periods


Subject Matter:

Communication Skills, Ethics, Family Life, Health, Interpersonal Relationships, Language Arts, Parenting, Psychology, Religion

Learning Objectives

Tell a friend: Email this page
Let us know what you think of these lesson plans
Students will be able to:
  • Discuss the ways children and teens might resist their parents.

  • Explore the reasons children and teens challenge their parents.

  • Identify demands or behaviors that should be met with resistance by children and teens.

  • Determine the channels that are available to help children and teens who are dealing with a difficult or dangerous home environment.

  • Consider the ways they would try to help a friend or peer who struggles with unreasonable requests or demands from a parent.

Standards

This lesson was prepared by: Erin Audia

What do you think of this lesson plan? We want to know!

Good teaching gets better, and becomes more exciting, when people share ideas. If you've used this or any of R&E's lesson plans, please take a moment to e-mail us to describe what worked best for you, what you might have wanted done differently, or anything else you feel would make our lesson plans better.

Contact David Streight  |  Ask a question  |  Make a suggestion

R&E's Master Teacher David Streight

Background Procedures for Teachers Organizers for Students
Choose another lesson plan

Visit PBS TeacherSource Top