observational paper
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
TOPIC #1 – PRESCHOOL OBSERVATION
Observe children for one hour at the Chabot College’s Child Care Center. It will be necessary for you to call ahead to set-up a time with the Preschool Director. IMPORTANT NOTE: Given Covid19 this maybe a difficult paper to complete as the Center may well be closed. You will have to contact the Center to see if they're open. If they are, before completing this assignment you must have verification of a negative TB test and you may even be required to show proof of your Covid19 Vaccination. The Student Health Center will provide the TB test for you, if you need one; again depending on whether they are open.
Due to Covid19, you may not be unable to visit our Child Care Center. So, I'll accept a paper where you observe your own child/children or, if you work at a private Child Care Center, you perhaps can gain permission to observe those children. Some students work at Preschools - so an observation there is acceptable as long as you have the Preschool's approval. Please email ahead of time to discuss this option with me. Do not just go to a park and observe children!
Observe how the children interact and play with each other. Notice and comment on the children's motor skills. Does gender make a difference in the type of play in which they engage? What type of toys were available for the children? Who do the children play with? Watch how the preschool teachers as well as teacher-aids/parents interact with the children. How the teachers handle frustrations and arguments? Was there any bullying? If so, how was this handled? How did the children respond to this "intervention."
Write your paper describing your observations. Try to tie-into your observations with significant information that you’ve learned from the course and theories so far presented. If you are fascinated with child development, you may also want to peruse Chapters 7 and 8 for additional information. Include the date and time that you visited, state the name of the Preschool or Child Care facility and the name of your contact person.
__________________________________________________________
TOPIC #2 – IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR OWN LIFE
There are many individuals who help to shape and influence (either positively or negatively) our personality as we develop into the person we are today. Write about two people who stand out in your mind as individuals who have significantly contributed to your life, to your development. The individuals that you write about must represent different developmental stages in your life (5 stages are listed below). For example, do not just write about two people from your Childhood stage. You could write about one person from your Childhood stage and one from your Adolescent stage. Write a paper about how these individuals had a part in shaping you; i.e., respect, kindness, empathy, caring, self-esteem, morals, etc. Include any “turning point” episodes that were especially meaningful. In addition to the 3 pages, include a very brief letter (1 or 2 paragraphs) to one of these important people in your life. It will be up to you as to whether you want to mail your letter or not.
Stages of your development:
1. Infancy through preschool (birth through 4 years of age)
2. Childhood (5 – 11 years of age)
3. Adolescence (12 – 20)
4. Young adulthood (21 – 39) if it applies.
Lastly, I often suggest to my students that they keep these personal papers for say, 5, 10 years and then reflect on them at that time -- can be quite "informative!"
TOPIC #3 – CEMETERY VISIT
Visit a cemetery. Take notes of your observations and feelings during your walk through the cemetery. Even describe the cemetery a little/one or two sentences. What are your own views on death? Do your views fit into the norm of the American culture? What kind of ceremony or mourning ritual would you like to have when you die, burial or cremation? Why would you choose burial or cremation? Notice the tombstones and the information listed about the deceased. How would you like to be remembered? Write a paper on your thoughts and observations. In addition to the 3 written pages, even if you choose to be cremated, include a picture or drawing of your memorial or tombstone. This pic or drawing can be added to your Text Entry box or as a PDF in the comment section below the Text Entry box. Include the name of the cemetery, location, and date of visit.
TOPIC #4 – CULTURAL EVENT
Go to a cultural activity or event. Again, given Covid19, you'll have to become creative with this topic. Email me if you choose this topic. The following instructions were written pre-Covid, to give my students ideas about possible events that they could attend and what to include in the paper:
Take notes of your observations, judgments, opinions and feelings as you watch what is occurring. For example, go to a cultural festival (“Carnival”) or cultural activity (perhaps an ethnically different wedding) or any parade (Carnival, S.F.LGBTQ+ parade, or any of the Bay Area fairs) or walk through a neighborhood that is predominantly unique i.e., “the Mission;” “the Castro” (18th/Market St./Castro St., S.F.); “the S.F. French/Italian” districts; S.F.’s "Chinatown" or "Japan-town," or Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, with it's '70's street vendors, etc. Note any gender and cultural differences and/or similarities. Identify the group’s roles, rituals, activities and note how they are similar to or different from “mainstream” America. State the type of ceremony, festival, parade, or activity and its purpose. State how similar or dissimilar you are from this group. Again, write a paper based on your thoughts and observations. Identify anything that might have changed (positively or negatively) your thoughts about the group of people that you are observing. Consider such issues as racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, and classism as you make your observations.
MUST BE 3 PAGE LONG WITH DOUBLE SPACE, 12 TIMES AND ROMEN
Observe children for one hour at the Chabot College’s Child Care Center. It will be necessary for you to call ahead to set-up a time with the Preschool Director. IMPORTANT NOTE: Given Covid19 this maybe a difficult paper to complete as the Center may well be closed. You will have to contact the Center to see if they're open. If they are, before completing this assignment you must have verification of a negative TB test and you may even be required to show proof of your Covid19 Vaccination. The Student Health Center will provide the TB test for you, if you need one; again depending on whether they are open.
Due to Covid19, you may not be unable to visit our Child Care Center. So, I'll accept a paper where you observe your own child/children or, if you work at a private Child Care Center, you perhaps can gain permission to observe those children. Some students work at Preschools - so an observation there is acceptable as long as you have the Preschool's approval. Please email ahead of time to discuss this option with me. Do not just go to a park and observe children!
Observe how the children interact and play with each other. Notice and comment on the children's motor skills. Does gender make a difference in the type of play in which they engage? What type of toys were available for the children? Who do the children play with? Watch how the preschool teachers as well as teacher-aids/parents interact with the children. How the teachers handle frustrations and arguments? Was there any bullying? If so, how was this handled? How did the children respond to this "intervention."
Write your paper describing your observations. Try to tie-into your observations with significant information that you’ve learned from the course and theories so far presented. If you are fascinated with child development, you may also want to peruse Chapters 7 and 8 for additional information. Include the date and time that you visited, state the name of the Preschool or Child Care facility and the name of your contact person.
__________________________________________________________
TOPIC #2 – IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR OWN LIFE
There are many individuals who help to shape and influence (either positively or negatively) our personality as we develop into the person we are today. Write about two people who stand out in your mind as individuals who have significantly contributed to your life, to your development. The individuals that you write about must represent different developmental stages in your life (5 stages are listed below). For example, do not just write about two people from your Childhood stage. You could write about one person from your Childhood stage and one from your Adolescent stage. Write a paper about how these individuals had a part in shaping you; i.e., respect, kindness, empathy, caring, self-esteem, morals, etc. Include any “turning point” episodes that were especially meaningful. In addition to the 3 pages, include a very brief letter (1 or 2 paragraphs) to one of these important people in your life. It will be up to you as to whether you want to mail your letter or not.
Stages of your development:
1. Infancy through preschool (birth through 4 years of age)
2. Childhood (5 – 11 years of age)
3. Adolescence (12 – 20)
4. Young adulthood (21 – 39) if it applies.
Lastly, I often suggest to my students that they keep these personal papers for say, 5, 10 years and then reflect on them at that time -- can be quite "informative!"
TOPIC #3 – CEMETERY VISIT
Visit a cemetery. Take notes of your observations and feelings during your walk through the cemetery. Even describe the cemetery a little/one or two sentences. What are your own views on death? Do your views fit into the norm of the American culture? What kind of ceremony or mourning ritual would you like to have when you die, burial or cremation? Why would you choose burial or cremation? Notice the tombstones and the information listed about the deceased. How would you like to be remembered? Write a paper on your thoughts and observations. In addition to the 3 written pages, even if you choose to be cremated, include a picture or drawing of your memorial or tombstone. This pic or drawing can be added to your Text Entry box or as a PDF in the comment section below the Text Entry box. Include the name of the cemetery, location, and date of visit.
TOPIC #4 – CULTURAL EVENT
Go to a cultural activity or event. Again, given Covid19, you'll have to become creative with this topic. Email me if you choose this topic. The following instructions were written pre-Covid, to give my students ideas about possible events that they could attend and what to include in the paper:
Take notes of your observations, judgments, opinions and feelings as you watch what is occurring. For example, go to a cultural festival (“Carnival”) or cultural activity (perhaps an ethnically different wedding) or any parade (Carnival, S.F.LGBTQ+ parade, or any of the Bay Area fairs) or walk through a neighborhood that is predominantly unique i.e., “the Mission;” “the Castro” (18th/Market St./Castro St., S.F.); “the S.F. French/Italian” districts; S.F.’s "Chinatown" or "Japan-town," or Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, with it's '70's street vendors, etc. Note any gender and cultural differences and/or similarities. Identify the group’s roles, rituals, activities and note how they are similar to or different from “mainstream” America. State the type of ceremony, festival, parade, or activity and its purpose. State how similar or dissimilar you are from this group. Again, write a paper based on your thoughts and observations. Identify anything that might have changed (positively or negatively) your thoughts about the group of people that you are observing. Consider such issues as racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, and classism as you make your observations.
MUST BE 3 PAGE LONG WITH DOUBLE SPACE, 12 TIMES AND ROMEN