Use this cartoon to answer the following questions:

1. How does this cartoon make you feel?
2. What kind of image is portrayed?
3. How do you think the child's friends feels when he finds out why he has that mark on his face?

I chose this cartoon because the message is clear about child abuse and students will be able to understand it. I want students to be able to express their feelings through writing. This cartoon shows students how friends react when they find something like this out. The body language and facial expressions help students interpret the cartoon.

Im Ok by Christina Aguilera

-Read these lyrics by Christina Aguilera and think about how she would sing this song. How do these strong emotional words make you feel? Are you sad? What is the point of the song? How does it effect you?

Once upon a time, there was a girl
In her early years, she had to learn
How to grow up, living in a war that she called home
Never knew just where to turn for shelter from the storm
It hurt me to see the pain across my mother's face
Every time my father's fist would put her in her place
Hearing all the yelling, I would cry up in my room, Hoping it would be over soon


Bruises fade, father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
The strength is my mother for all the love she gave
And every morning that I wake, I look back at yesterday
And I'm OK


I often wonder why I've carried all this guilt
When it's you that helped me put up all these walls I've built
Shadows stir at night through a crack in the door
Echoes of a broken child screaming, "Please, no more!"
Daddy, don't you understand the damage you have done?
For you it's just a memory, but for me it still lives on

Bruises fade, father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so, so afraid
The strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake, I look back at yesterday

It's not so easy to forget
All the marks you left along her neck
When I was thrown against cold stairs
And every day afraid to come home
In fear of what I might see next

Bruises fade, father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
The strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake, I look back at yesterday
And I'm OK

I'm OK

*If you would like to hear her sing the song, here is the website, http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2795

I chose to post these lyrics because she was a victum of an abusive father. I know teenagers would be able to relate and resond to her music becasue she is a pop icon. Teenagers need role models ro set examples for them. Her words and voice make people want to listen.

What did I do Wrong?

Click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9njhcQUlXc to watch a video that talks about the kinds of abuse, statistics, and pictures of abused children. This video sends the perfect message of why child abuse occurs in America today. Think about the pictures used in the video, the facts and statistics displayed, the song in the background, and the different kinds of abuse. How does it make you feel?

I chose this video clip because it lets students see the true facts and statistics about child abuse. I think the earlier students know about this information, the better. Students will be able to see the different kinds of physical abuse children face and the pain they feel. Students will be able to learn the signs people show if abuse is occuring and try to do something about it.

"Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride

Click on the play button to watch the music video. Physical and emotional abuse are the top two kinds of abuse that effect most children today. As you are watching the video think about the little girl and how she is feeling. If you knew her, what would you do to try and help her? What if she didn't want help? After the video is over, think about how you are feeling.

I chose Concrete Angles by Martina McBride because it shows what a young child goes through after she is abused by her mother. The lyrics and video are very moving and make you think about how parents can treat there child like that. As a teacher, I will be faced with children that are abused at home, and it is my responsibility to do something about it. Students need to know how to deal with this topic becasue if something is not done about, something horrible could happen. This video will show studnets how important this issue is.

Prevention

Use these websites to learn about the signs of child abuse and ways to prevent it:

• http://preventchildabuseny.org/index.shtml
• http://www.childabuseprevention.org/

While visiting the sites answer these questions: what can you do with the sites? What links are on the sites for you to visit? Do you like the sites or do you like one better than the other? Explain? What kinds of information are posted on the cites for you to view? Compare these two sites? Are they the same? Different?

I chose these websites for students to look at to learn about prevention and ways to help. These websites are very informative and will benefit students in many ways. I want students to be able to use these websites as tools to expand their knowledge and facts about child abuse. I want teenagers to understand how important this issue is and that we need to do something about it.

How does this picture make you feel???

Study the picture and the message it sends. What do these words and sayings mean to you? Do they offend you in anyway? Look at the child's body language, how do you think she feels? How does this quote make you feel?

I chose this picture because I want teenagers to see and feel how a child feels. Look how she is pushed up into the corner hoping she isn't abused. The hurt and pain in her eyes are unforgettable. Teenagers need to know that the pain and suffering never goes away. It stays with them forever. Children need to know that this is not their fault. I want teenagers to know that verbal abuse is just as bad as physical abuse.