ADULT LEARNING ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1

Foster Children

When children can no longer stay at home, they are moved to another home. This home is known as a foster home. The child becomes a foster child. Now there are many foster children living in Sacramento. There are not enough foster homes for these children. There needs to be more places for foster children to live. There are children who need more help than their parents can give them. Sometimes a parent is not able to take care of them properly. Sometimes the child needs to be removed from the home to keep them safe. Way to watch over the children who need a new home. They will remove the children and put them in a foster home. When there are not enough foster homes in the county, they have to be moved far away. There is a place that takes in foster children. They are trying to raise money to build more

homes. They are also trying to add more special places like a nursery and a resource center. Over the past five years, the number of children in foster care in the Sacramento area has almost doubled. Now, more facilities are needed to house more than 6,000 children, and a local children's home says it needs your help.Ten-year-old Alyssa is a typical resident of the Sacramento Children's Home. She's lived at the foster care facility for more than a year. "When I lived with my Mom, she usually wasn't around the house a lot," Alyssa says. "Sometimes my Mom's boyfriend wasn't all right. He'd do mean things." Many more children like Alyssa are being taken into protective custody in Sacramento County. That's partially because of tragic cases like that of Adrian Conway. The three-year-old died after being brutally abused by his mother, despite the fact that the parenting arrangement was under the supervision of Child Protective Services. "This was an active CPS case," said Ron Davis of the Sacramento Children's Home. "And so it outraged the community that a child that was being supervised by Child Protective Services could be killed in his own home."So the county began erring on the side of caution, taking as many as 300 children into protective custody each month. "With many of these children, we're unable to serve their needs locally in Sacramento County so we've had to place these children in other counties away from their families," said Davis.That's why the Sacramento Children's Home has kicked off an $8 million fundraising campaign. The organization desperately needs more space to house additional children and other improved services. Administrators are trying to build a crisis nursery and family resource center to try to prevent child abuse.The Sacramento Children's Home needs more than $6 million to meet its goal. If you'd like to make a donation, you can call (916) 452-3981. There is also a critical need for foster parents. For more information, call Family Alliance at (916) 364-8910.

Foster Children

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Pick an Answer

1. Sometimes children need to be _____ from the home to keep them safe.

a) putb) leftc) kept

d) removed - Correct Answer

2. When children can no longer stay at home, they are moved to a _____ home.

a) smallb) grandparent'sc) oldd) foster - Correct Answer

3. The county needs to build _____ foster homes.

a) lessb) the samec) 100d) more - Correct Answer

4. The _____ has a way to watch over the children who need a new home.

a) county - Correct Answer b) policec) homed) state

5. They are also trying to add more special places like a _____ and a resource center.

a) bathroomb) kitchenc) bedroomd) nursery - Correct Answer

6. Sometimes _____ are not able to take care of their children properly.

a) childrenb) policemenc) teachersd) parents - Correct Answer

7. When there are not enough foster homes in the county, the children have to be moved _____.

a) nowb) tomorrowc) far away - Correct Answer d) next door

8. They are trying to raise _____ to build more homes.

a) childrenb) flowersc) applesd) money - Correct Answer

9. One thing they want to build is a _____ center.

a) bathroomb) recreationc) conferenced) resource - Correct Answer

10. There are not enough foster homes for all of these _____.

a) grandparentsb) children - Correct Answer c) policemend) parents

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Activities/Scores: Foster Children

ACTIVITY 2

Teen Suicide

In 1985, two boys spent an afternoon drinking beer. They were also smoking. They listened to music by a band called Judas Priest. Later that evening they tried to kill themselves. One boy died right away. The other died three years later. The two families blame the record company that made the record and the band. They believe the music helped the boys to kill themselves. They are going to go to court to get money from the record company and the band. The parents think people should know what type of music their kids are listening to. They want warning labels put on all records so people will know if the music is good or bad. A judge said that the band and the record company did not get the two boys to kill themselves. The court said that what was on the record was an accident of the sounds mixing together.

The song does not call for teenagers to commit suicide. One lawyer said all music can be heard wrong. Any song played backwards could make strange words. The lawyer thinks the judge was very fair because the band did not put any secret words into their music. One of the boy's father says he does not think this will be the last time parents will go to court for this. He believes other bands will be held responsible for the music they make. An Oregon family who lost their son to suicide is thinking about going to court, too.

Activities/Scores: Teen Suicide

ACTIVITY 3

Smoking Kills

Smoking kills more Americans than AIDS, drug abuse, car accidents and crime. Did you know that 390,000 Americans die each year from cigarette smoking? Smoking tobacco causes 1 out of 6 deaths. Smoking can also cause some very serious diseases. Some people become addicted to smoking. Lung cancer has caused more deaths in women than breast cancer. If a pregnant woman smokes, she has a greater chance of medical problems with her baby. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of cancer death in men. Male smokers over the age of 35 are more likely to die from smoking-related diseases like lung cancer. Many children start smoking before they reach high school. They run the risk of

smoking most of their lives. They could die of smoking-related diseases.

Activities/Scores: Smoking Kills

ACTIVITY 4

Memorial Bells

A memorial was put up in California. The memorial was to honor a small boy. The boy was killed. His family was on vacation in Italy when it happened. When the boy died his parents donated his body parts. The body parts helped save 7 people living in Italy. The people in Italy were very happy. They wanted to thank the boy’s family in some way. They sent 130 bells to them. The bells reminded the family of all the love the people in Italy had for them and their dead son. An artist made a memorial from the bells. It is 18 feet high. It was placed by the ocean. When the wind blows it makes the bells ring. The parents want the memorial to be a comfort for anyone who visits. The father

still remembers how special his son was. He hopes people will keep giving body parts to those that need them. He wants to keep sharing the love that his son had.

Activities/Scores: Memorial Bells

ACTIVITY 5

Domestic Violence

Laura was married for 6 months. Her husband was using drugs. She didn't want her son or her unborn baby to live that way, but she was afraid to ask her husband to leave. She left him a note instead. After reading the note, Laura's husband waited for her to come home and then beat her and her son. He smashed dishes, pictures and toys and left the house in a terrible mess. He said it was all her fault. After Laura cleaned up the mess she went to the hospital. She was badly bruised all over her body, but the baby was fine. Laura had little education and she never had a good paying job. She was ashamed to ask for help from the police, courts or women's shelters. Laura wanted her marriage and family to

work. Sometimes her husband was very nice to her. She decided to try harder so her children could have a home and a father. Laura joined a church and told a priest about her problem. But her husband kept using drugs and hurting the family. Finally, she told her husband she loved him, but they should live apart for a while. He beat her again. The priest had called and could tell Laura was in trouble. He came over to talk to her. He asked the husband to go out for a while. Laura packed up her kids and left. The next day she lost the baby. Her husband went to jail. Laura got a lot of help from groups that help women who have been beaten. Now she is in college, has her own apartment and works on special projects at a women's shelter. "We got out, and it changed life for me and my children. You can do it. You can break the cycle," Laura said.

Activities/Scores: Domestic Violence

ACTIVITY 6

Video Games

There are many kinds of computer games. Some games let you shoot a gun at people on the screen. If a body is hit, blood and body parts come off the body. Another game shows a monster eating a person. In another game, many of the pictures show violence. Some pictures show women with very little clothes on. The people who make the games are worried that these kinds of games are not good for people to play. One game company wants less violence in the computer games. They want their games to not have women shown without much clothing. Some people think that the violence in the games is like growing up. Some boys like to fight and they will use the computer to pretend to fight.

These games were made by young men. The violence and sex are put in the game for boys. But what about girls? Girls need to be comfortable with computers so they can use them when they grow up. Most computer games are not violent. Playing computer games help kids to get involved with computers. The problem now is to get girls to learn computers while they are still young.

Activities/Scores: Video Games

ACTIVITY 7

Fruit Flies

Two tiny fruit flies were found. These flies can be harmful. People are worried. One fly was caught in a trap. The trap was in a tree. The other fly was found not far from there. These flies can hurt fruit trees. They damage many different kinds of fruit trees. The flies need to be killed. Some people make their money by selling fruit. These fruit flies are damaging their fruit trees. The fruit sellers will lose money if the flies are not stopped. Workers will spray telephone poles and trees. The spray will have poison in it. They hope this poison will kill the flies.

Activities/Scores: Fruit Flies

ACTIVITY 8

Biosphere

People who fly in space have to eat food that they bring from earth. In the future, these people will grow their own food. Scientists are getting ready for the future by living in a biosphere in Arizona. In 1989, eight people began living inside the biosphere. They were sealed off from the outside world. They grew their own food. A scientist said that we will need some kind of life system on another planet. A new project is called Biosphere Two. Many different areas will be put in the biosphere. It will copy the oceans, the tropics, and a rain forest. A small desert and a tiny swamp will also be put in. A greenhouse will help them grow food. They will try to grow all

of the food they need with no help from outside. If they can do this, then it could be done on another planet that does not have any plants growing on it. The idea has been tried already on a small scale. On a desk in an office, two tiny shrimps have lived two years in a sealed globe.

Activities/Scores: Biosphere

ACTIVITY 9

Nature Sounds

Burney Crouss went to school to study the sounds of nature. For 20 years he has recorded the sounds animals make. He has recordings of animal sounds from all over the world. Burney has made a record of animal songs. It all began when he took some of the sounds and put them together. Last year, he put together a song he called "Jungle Shoes." It turned out great. Burney makes the music by taking part of his animal noises and saving them on a computer. He makes each sound play when a key is pressed. Then he asks other musicians to play the keys into songs. Burney believes in working to save nature. He thinks that more people need to take care of our world. The sounds of nature are quickly

disappearing. When he recorded whales in Alaska, he could hear the sound of oil well drilling from fifteen to twenty miles away. It was very loud. He says his goal is to save nature sounds so his children will be able to hear them.

Activities/Scores: Nature Sounds

ACTIVITY 10

Timber or Trees

There are many trees in America. The trees have many uses. They provide many things to the area where they grow. Trees are also cut down to make many things for people to use. People who cut down trees are mad. Many of them lost their jobs because they could not cut down any more trees. Some people want all the trees to grow and not be cut down. Some people get together to make the National Forest Service stop the logging companies from cutting down trees. The logging companies get together to make the National Forest Service let them cut the trees down. The National Forest Service is trying to let all the American people use the national forests. The people with the most

money can tell the forest service to allow the cutting to be done. Even when scientists say that cutting the trees down would hurt the forest and the animals, they still cut the trees down. Anybody who does not like that idea is not listened to. Some parts of the forests have been overcut. Too many trees have been taken away. Other parts have been stopped from being cut. When this happens, many people lose their jobs. The biggest problem is deciding what should be done with all of the trees.

Activities/Scores: Timber or Trees

ACTIVITY 11

Pollution Fight

A city wants to get money from some companies in the city. These companies are putting bad things into the water under the ground. It might cost $100 million to clean up the water. Companies use many chemicals in their work. Some of these chemicals can leak into the ground. The chemicals pollute the water under the ground. The city does not want to put the companies out of business. It is talking to their insurance companies. One insurance company has already given the city $1 million. Some companies are not happy about the city's plan. They do not want

their insurance companies to pay the city. It would be like saying the water pollution is their fault. A man in charge of the local newspaper does not like the plan. He does not want his business blamed for pollution. He is afraid lawsuits will put him out of business. The city of Lodi says it needs to raise money from companies that are contributing to groundwater pollution without putting those firms out of business. That's why city attorneys say they are researching insurance coverage for several local merchants searching for a source of money. The plan is drawing complaints from several businesses including the local newspaper, The Lodi News-Sentinel. A paper executive tells News 10 he's worried an inadvertent admission of liability could devastate the small business. Total costs for the groundwater clean-up project could reach $100,000,000. The city of Lodi says it has already reached a settlement with one insurance company for about $1,000,000.

Activities/Scores: Pollution Fight

ACTIVITY 12

Milk Prices

The price of milk may be going up. There was not enough rain in some parts of the country last year. The bad weather may mean that a gallon of milk will cost 41-cents more after October 1. A California court wants to keep the cost down. California already has high milk prices. The court does not want the cost to go any higher. High milk prices will be very hard for some people. Families with many children buy a lot of milk. The poor and older people without much money will also be hurt by higher prices. The court said that more milk from other states can be sold in California. The price of milk from other states might not be as high. Some states got

enough rain so their cost did not go up. People will buy the cheaper milk. This will make all the milk sellers lower their prices. If they do not, their milk will not sell. A drought around the country means market forces are likely to push milk prices as much as 41-cents a gallon by October 1st. Experts say a decision from a California court could lessen the impact of the price hikes here. The 41-cent increase would add to California’s already high milk prices. However, a judge has ruled that the state must allow more milk producers from outside the state to sell their product here. Experts say that could lead to increased supplies and resist the impulse to raise prices.

Activities/Scores: Milk Prices

ACTIVITY 13

No Strike

More than 2000 San Joaquin County workers planned a strike. Workers strike because they want change. Often, they want more money or changes in their work place. The strike did not happen because the union and the county reached an agreement in time. Both sides say there are details to settle before the contract is final. Because there was no strike, people can get services at the hospital, the courthouse, and other county offices. Services are available as usual today at the San Joaquin County Hospital, the courthouse, and other key facilities. That's because a last minute deal averted a planned strike by more than 2,000 county clerical and service

workers. Union leaders announced the decision to call off the strike before the midnight deadline. Both sides say there are final details to be worked out before a vote is held on the contract but the framework is in place for a final settlement.

Activities/Scores: No Strike

ACTIVITY 14

Fast Car

Years ago, Craig Breedlove set speed records. He raced across flat land made of salt. He went as fast as 600 miles per hour in his special car. Now he wants to go the speed of sound. He has built a car with a jet engine. He will try to go 765 miles per hour on land. He will ride in a five wheeled hot rod. It has a Navy jet engine. The last time he raced, two parachutes failed. He burned the brakes out in the car. Then he went through a telephone pole. He finally ended up in a salt water canal. He had to swim out of it. Breedlove builds his car in a garage in the small town

of Rio Vista, California. His wife Marilyn and the crew live with the project 24 hours a day. It has taken 23 years to get his idea made into a car. In early October, he will learn if his idea works.

Activities/Scores: Fast Car

ACTIVITY 15

Tire Fire

Lightning struck early in the morning. It started a fire in a huge pile of tires. The fire is near a big city in California. Firefighters say it could take more than a year to put the fire all the way out. Another tire fire started a year ago. It is still burning. An agency of the government is in charge of waste. It makes rules about keeping old tires. It tries to make sure people obey the rules. The agency is angry at the man who owns the tires. It has told him many times to get rid of them. He has not done it. Right now the smoke from the fire does not hurt people's health. Firefighters are using bulldozers to clear the ground around the fire. They do not want it to get bigger. An early morning lightning strike is likely to blame for a huge fire burning at a tire

farm in Westley. That's about twenty miles west of Modesto along Interstate 5. Firefighters say it could take more than a year before the fire is completely extinguished. They note a similar fire in the summer of 1998 in Tracy is still smoldering. California's Waste Management Board is blasting Ed Philbin, the owner of the tire farm, for allegedly failing to comply with an order to try to prevent such tire fires. Board members tell News 10 Philbin has repeatedly failed to get rid of the tires as ordered. Authorities say the smoke is

not posing a health threat at this time. Air 10's Power Zoom shows close-up images of firefighters using a bulldozer to clear a break around the fire to keep it from spreading.

Activities/Scores: Tire Fire

ANNEXES