7th - 12th Grade LifeChest Activity Guide

ISSUES CONCERNING LIFE AND YOU

THEMES

Abortion
To increase the understanding of the development of the unborn child and the physical and psychological components of abortion.

Euthanasia
To give students an understanding of the critical issue of euthanasia and to develop in them a respect for those with disabilities, the elderly and the dying.

CONCEPTS

Abortion:
1. The humanity of the unborn child is demonstrated in all stages of development
2. Abortion takes several forms and ends the life of the unborn child at any stage of development.
3. Abortion is traumatic and can cause serious complications.
4. Abortion raises serious moral questions.
5. As a result of society's acceptance of abortion, infanticide and the destruction of newborns with disabilities are becoming more frequent occurrences.

Euthanasia:
1. Euthanasia has various terms and meanings to be examined.
2. The increasingly popular "right to die" mentality must be understood and overcome.
3. Euthanasia raises serious moral questions.
4. Food and water are not medical treatment but necessities for life.
5. The humanity and dignity of those with disabilities, the elderly and the dying must be respected.

ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS

Activity #1: Legislative Activity

Activity: Using the legislative supplement as an aid, allow students to look at some of the prolife laws that have been passed in Michigan. Allow students to:

1. Write to their Senator or Representative about a law which is presently pending that they would like to see passed. Best if used in conjunction with a lesson on how bills are passed in the House and the Senate (see www.legislature.mi.gov).

2. Encourage students to look at the Right to Life of Michigan web page on Grass roots Activism (www.rtl.org/html/legislation/activism.html). Discuss the value of grass roots (grass roots: local community-action; ie. "get-out-the-vote" calls of encouragement made to individuals asking them to vote for a candidate; petitioning for policy change; or letter-writing campaign to Congress and/or President).

3. Encourage students to write their own prolife policy. How do they think things should be changing?

Activity #2: Starting a Prolife Group

Activity: Brainstorm with students ways that they may start their own prolife group. Attempt to facilitate them as they build their group. Allow them to borrow videos and books. Also help them to compile their own information about the issues that their group will be tackling.

Talking Points:

1. How can the students draw other students into their group?

2. What are their goals? What do they hope to achieve?

3. How do they plan to achieve what they are doing?

4. What kinds of materials will the group need to start?

5. Talk about things that they group may do together (ex. write letters to Congressmen, etc..)

6. Discuss what kind of information the group will need and how they will be able to get it (ex. statistics, info. on abortion, etc...).

7. How will the group raise money if necessary?

Activity #3: Internet Research

Activity: Refer to the list of internet sites provided below. Allow students to browse the sites and learn about abortion and euthanasia on their own.

Discussion: Get back together in a group and discuss what they have researched. Also discuss with them how to be discerning about information that they come across on the websites. Another option may be for the students to refer to media websites such as www.cnn.com for information on abortion, euthanasia, and even medical ethics (stem cell research and cloning issues).

Internet Addresses:
Fetal Development:
–www.justthefacts.org
-www.sfuhl.org

Abortion Statistics:
–www.mdch.state.mi.us (go to "Health Stats", then "Natality/Pregnancy Stats"). Complete listing of abortion research in Michigan as reported by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
– www.cdc.gov (type "abortion" into the search engine on the home page)

Abortion Facts:
–www.lifenews.com/ Prolife info., articles, and links.
-www.rtl.org /Prolife info., fact sheets and articles.
- www.abortionfacts.com/ - Prolife information on a variety of topics

Partial-Birth Abortions:
–www.NRLC.org/abortion/pba/index.html / Web site of National Right to Life Committee.

Mifepristone-RU486:
–www.NRLC.org/RU486/Index.html / link to National Right to Life Committee.
–www.ru486.org / The RU486 Files: includes articles, clippings, book resources, and links to related sites.

Post-abortion Syndrome:
–www.afterabortion.org / Web site of the Elliot Institute which does research on post-abortive women.

Adoption:
–www.bethany.org / Bethany's Web site has information on domestic and international adoptions.
–www.adopting.com / A great site for an overview of all aspects of adopting.

Abortion/Breast Cancer link:
–www.abortionbreastcancer.com / Informative web site of Dr. Joel Brind.

Euthanasia:
–www.iaetf.org / International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force Web Site.
–www.euthanasia.com/ Information about euthanasia and assisted suicide

CLASSROOM MATERIALS AVAILABLE

AUDIO-VISUALS

Abortion
ABORTION ISSUES - Molly Kelly presents facts about abortion and helps teens understand that abortion is not the solution to teen pregnancy. (30 min)

A DISTANT THUNDER - Powerful 35-minute film that uses courtroom drama to help reveal the reality of what partial-birth abortion does to a child and how abortion effects women. The film helps the viewer think about the issues but is not presented in an explicitly prolife way.

HIDDEN TRUTH - A video from the Concerned Women for America which brings
to light the real costs of abortion to women, from clinical depression to medical
complications, family problems and life long regret.

MEET THE ABORTION PROVIDERS - an inside look at the abortion business from the perspective of former abortionists, their assistants and clinic owners. Includes ultrasound images of babies and a view of abortion aftermath. (30 min)

SILENT SCREAM - This video shows a second trimester suction abortion as seen on ultrasound. Narrated by former abortionist Bernard Nathanson, M.D. (30 min)

Fetal Development

IN THE WOMB - DVD from the National Geographic Channel which follows the incredible journey of the unborn child from conception to birth.

PREVIEW OF A BIRTH - Explores facts of preborn life through beautiful in-utero photography. Live film and ultrasound images. (15 min)

ULTRASOUND: EYEWITNESS TO THE EARLIEST DAYS OF LIFE - Through the use of ultrasound, unborn children are observed at various stages of development as theybreathe, jump, open their eyes and more. (25 min)

ULTRASOUND: WINDOW TO THE WOMB - Same material as EYEWITNESS with discussion on abortion by ultrasonographer Shari Richard. (45 min)

Euthanasia
TO BE OR NOT TO BE...THE HUMAN FAMILY- Video by Mark Pickup, one of North America's foremost disability speakers. In this video, Mark comments on the culture of death in North America. Argues for a culture that treats all people with dignity

PERSPECTIVES ON EUTHANASIA - This video and study guide examine the terminology and concepts of physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia and hospice. (27 min, broken into 3 segments)

BOOKS

ABORTED WOMEN, SILENT NO MORE by David Reardon reports the results of his comprehensive research on post-abortion trauma and contains many personal profiles of those who have experienced the pain of abortion.

CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO A BRAVE NEW WORLD by Wesley Smith discusses cloning, stem cell research and Big Biotech.

IMPOSED DEATH by Mary Senander. Formerly "What you need to know about euthanasia and the 'right' to die," this booklet examines and refutes arguments used by euthanasia advocates to shape opinions and influence public policy.

THE LIFE AND DEATH DILEMMA by Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic, artist and author. A revised version of When Is It Right to Die?, end-of-life issues are re- examined in light of current events. Included in this edition are discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

PRO-LIFE ANSWERS TO PRO-CHOICE ARGUMENTS by Randy Alcorn. The ultimate reference book on prolife issues, this book offers hundreds of prolife arguments in a well-documented question-answer format.

WHO BROKE THE BABY? by Jean Staker Garton. Now in its second edition, this is a brilliant explanation of the slogans used to promote abortion.

HANDOUTS

Abortion
Brief History of You- a flyer featuring the developmental stages of the baby in-utero

Adoption Choices - this brochure presents adoption as a positive alternative for a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy and includes a review of the various adoption plans that may be made.

LIFENOTES (abortion procedures)- brochure that details (not graphic) abortion methods and their complications.

Stem Cell Research- this fact sheet informs students about stem cells. What are they? What are they used for? What is the controversy over stem cell research? Addresses the fact that stem cell research kills embryos. Details alternatives to stem cell research on embryos.

First Nine Months - this simple and beautiful brochure shows and tells the amazing story of life before birth using full-color photography and written description..

Legislative Supplements- this 4-page newspaper inserts inform students about prolife laws that have been passed and others that are pending. Also provides a listing of prolife Congressmen to refer to.

Euthanasia
Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia newspaper insert - provides a basic question-answer segment and includes articles on true compassion and the Netherlands crisis.

Food and Water: To Care or To Kill - this brochure discusses euthanasia by starvation and dehydration, including case studies and a painful description of the likely outcome of this sort of death.

Pain Management: Rx for True Dignity - positive approaches to pain treatment which provide true dignity and compassion are outlined in this brochure.

Physician-Assisted Suicide: Personal Right or Medical Wrong? - a review of the challenges this issue presents, including pro-euthanasia reasoning, the slippery slope study of the Netherlands and the hospice alternative.

CLASSROOM AIDS
Facts of Life poster - a colorful laminated poster depicting photos and drawings of the unborn child at every stage of development

Fetal Models - a set of five, life-sized models of in-utero babies from one through five months. The 14- and 18-week babies may be lifted from their "womb."

Life Before Birth laminated reprint - first printed in 1965 by Life magazine, this unique, 12-page essay features color photos by Lennart Nilsson

RLM News - Right to Life of Michigan's bi-monthly newspaper on current prolife issues

Young One fetal model - a 10- to 12-week old fetal model which fits in the hand

Touch of Life models- Lifelike and natural, a set of four in-utero babies at 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 26 weeks, and 30 weeks. Children able to pick up and hold. Right to Life of Michigan' s State Central Office has only one set of these fetal models. Requests are filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

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