The Risks of Teen Pregnancy and Teen Parenthood

In this WebQuest, students will research the risks of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood. They will discover a goal or activity in their lives that serves as an inspiration to postpone parenthood until they have finished high school and gained financial independence.

> The introduction on teenage pregnancy should first define the topic, explaining that Researching information:

> The introduction should also briefly mention the potential negative impacts of teenage pregnancy on education, future opportunities, and overall well-being.

> Finally, it can outline the purpose of the webquest, which is to explore the various facets of teenage pregnancy, including its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

By delving into these topics, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of this complex issue and contribute to the development of effective prevention and support strategies." you will learn more about the effects and serious risks of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood. You also will identify a goal or an activity that inspires you to not become a teen parent.

The task of  is to educate students about the complexities and consequences of teenage pregnancy and parenthood. This often involves researching the physical, emotional, social, and financial impacts on the teenage parent and the child, as well as exploring preventative measures and available resources.

Students may also be tasked with finding ways to support teenagers who are facing unplanned pregnancies.

Here are the following tasks of students:

> Your job in this WebQuest is to learn more about teen pregnancy and its effects on teenage girls, teenage boys, and the babies born to them.

>You will research facts about teen pregnancy and teen parenthood and read some teens' stories about their lives before and after having a child.

> You will need to use your internet research to answer a list of questions about teen pregnancy. Then you will write an essay explaining your anti-teen pregnancy goal, which is a purpose for avoiding teen pregnancy that you will create after exploring the internet resources below.

> Before beginning their internet research, students will read the seven questions below to help guide their searches.

> After researching the Web sites, students will need to answer the questions and then write an essay in which they explain their own anti-teen pregnancy goal.

This is an activity or a person that will keep them away from the risks of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood.

 

Before students begin their research on the Web sites, have them review the list of questions provided on the student page. They will need to answer these questions after reviewing the information on the resource Web sites.

These concepts will help students develop a sense of the seriousness and the risks of teen pregnancy. You may want to discuss these questions as a class prior to beginning the internet research.

> Students should use their research to discover something in their lives that will help prevent teen pregnancy and teen parenthood from happening to them. These are going to be their reasons for anti-teen pregnancy.

> Students then will write an essay explaining what their anti-teen pregnancy reasons are and why they chose them. They need to discuss how this person, activity, or goal affects them and why it is important for them to avoid becoming a teen parent.

Students should include in their essays several facts about the risks of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood and should demonstrate an understanding of the scope of the problem.

 

You may assign 4 points to each of the eight questions for a total of 32 possible points. The answers to the questions are given below. You may rate the answer to each question by the following scale:

Excellent - 4 points

Good - 3 points

Fair- 2 points

Poor - 1 point

 

1. The generational cycle of teen pregnancy occurs when a teen whose own mother was a teen parent becomes pregnant. According to the March of Dimes, children born to teen parents have a higher risk of dropping out of school and of being raised in poverty. Teen parents may not be able to finish school themselves because they must care for a child, and therefore they may not be able to earn very much money. Also, children of teen parents have a much lower chance of living with their fathers. Nearly eight out of ten fathers of children born to teen mothers do not marry the mothers. All of these situations lead to an increased risk of teen pregnancy for the children of teen parents.

2. One risk for a baby born to teen parents is low birth weight, which may occur when a teen mother delays prenatal care because she may not know she is pregnant, she may be afraid to tell anyone, or she doesn't know where to go for prenatal care. She may not understand the importance of prenatal care and the importance of eating healthy foods to nourish her developing baby. She may use drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. All of these things can cause low birth weight, according to the March of Dimes. Low birth weight is less than 5.5 pounds at birth and it can lead to physical and mental problems in the future. Also, low birth weight babies are more than 20 times more likely to die in their first year of life. Another risk for a baby born to teen parents is an increased risk of living in poverty. Babies born to teen parents may live in poverty because their parents have difficulty finishing school, caring for the baby, and working to support the baby. Living in poverty as a child increases the risks of malnutrition, illness, environmental health problems, not finishing school, being a victim of crime, and living in poverty as an adult. Babies born to teen parents also have the risk of having parents who, due their youth and inexperience, do not have adequate parenting skills. This can lead to disadvantages in social and physical development, abuse, or neglect.

3. A child learns behaviors from his or her parents. If a child grows up without encouragement to do well in school, it is more likely that he or she may drop out before finishing their education.

4. Teens who are pregnant may not know it right away. They may want to hide it because they don't know what to do. They may not understand why it is important to see a doctor for prenatal care as soon as they know they are pregnant. According to the March of Dimes, more pregnant teens smoke than pregnant women who are older. The baby can be affected by the mother's lack of prenatal care because the mother may continue harmful behavior such as smoking or drinking, the mother may not understand how to eat healthfully for the baby, or the baby or mother may have a medical problem that goes undetected.

5. Teens are not as mature as adults and may not see the importance of spending time with their children. A teen father may not be held responsible for the day-to-day care of a child. Teen fathers may try to support the mother and child by working for a majority of the child's waking hours. When children do not have an active father in their lives they can suffer from feelings of abandonment, lack of adequate supervision, and lack of economic support.

6. Girls who do not have good relationships with their fathers often look for attention from other males, which can lead to lack of self-esteem, early sexual activity, and teen pregnancy. Boys who do not have good relationships with their fathers have a higher incidence of job instability later in life. Both boys and girls are at risk for increased violence, poverty, and not finishing high school.

7. When teens use drugs or alcohol, they lose control of their actions. They may make decisions and do things they would not do when sober. This is often the case with teen sex. Being high or drunk also increases the risk of being raped, which can result in teen pregnancy.

8. When teens have certain hobbies or activities in which they are interested, they are less likely to be in a situation in which pregnancy can occur. They are less likely to turn to someone outside their families for validation or attention. They are less likely to suffer from low self-esteem or lack of self-confidence, which can lead to teen pregnancy.

Use the evaluation rubric below or other means to assess each student's essay.

Evaluating the Essay

Execllent(5)

* Legitimate goal chosen and clearly identified

* Clear explanations and reasons

*Essay is well organized and well written.

Good (4)

*Goal chosen are identified

* Limited explanations and reasons

* Lack of support to essay

Fair (2)

*Goal chosen are clear but not identified

* Unnecessary explanations

* Unsupported essay

Poor(1)

*  No clear goal identified

* No explanations and reasons

* No essay

After completing their internet research, students should be able to demonstrate a solid understanding of the risks of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood by answering the WebQuest questions. Then, by writing an essay discussing how they will strive to avoid teen parenthood, students should begin to understand the seriousness of the issue and, through self-discovery, gain the knowledge and strength to control their futures.

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