AP Psychology
Rowe
The Eggsperiment
Parenting and Developmental Psychology
As part of the chapter on development, you will complete an exercise in parenting and responsibility. For the next 7 days (March 25th – April 1st) you are responsible for the care and support of a newborn egg. On Monday, you will adopt your RAW egg during class, name him/her and devise a plan for their care and well-being. Be sure you come to class prepared with a way to get the new baby home.
Beginning March 25thyou are to parent your newborn egg 24 hours each day. You are expected to bring your egg to school (to all your classes) with you, each day. After all, these are newborns, individuals that cannot fend for themselves.
Responsibility. Your responsibilities include, but are NOT limited to:
-Providing a loving caring environment for your egg – a carrying device is essential to the ease of care and the nurturing, comfort and safety your newborn (10pts BONUS awarded for originality of environment)
-Carrying your newborn with you EVERYWHERE (class, the bathroom, home, on the bus, etc)
-Leaving the newborn with a qualified babysitter when you are unable to care for the child yourself (you are NOT to leave the child unattended for extended periods of time as it may cause emotional trauma…)
-You are not to hard-boil your egg or harm your egg in any other way - that qualifies as abuse and you will be deducted 10pts
Attendance. Your newborn must attend AP Psychology every day
-Egg attendance will be taken daily: March 26th – April 1st (last check-in)
-5pts will be given every day for egg attendance (25pts)
-If you miss school, to earn full credit for this portion of the assignment, it is recommended that you complete the extra credit to compensate for lost attendance days– a journal must be completed for days you are absent!
Originality. Your egg will be stamped to make sure you maintain the original egg.
-If your egg breaks, be honest, you will not lose points (if possible, bring the broken egg or evidence of a break to class for attendance) but you are no longer eligible for the additional 10 POINT BONUS, for maintenance of the original stamped egg.
Journal. Each day you are to keep a log of all of the activities you and your egg do together (at least 10 distinct occurrences/day).
- Each journal (5pts/each x 7 days = 35pts) must be signed and dated by the egg’s grandparent (your parent/guardian), indicating that they were witness to the activities and approve your parenting skills. see sample on back
- If you leave your egg with a babysitter, have the babysitter sign your egg log indicating that they performed their duties.
- Journals should not be an identical replica of the previous day; it is near to impossible to complete the exact same behaviors every day.
Reflection. Once you have completed your last day with your egg (the night of November 5th) type a one-page reflection (15pts) on your time spent with your egg.
Consider the following questions:
- What was it like to be a parent?
- What did you learn about parenting?
- How did it feel to be responsible for another all day everyday?
- Were there any anxieties associated with the Eggsperiment?
A few last words.
-This is a TEST grade – 75 points, with a possible 20 points extra credit… so it should be taken seriously!
-A happy egg is an “easy egg” AND will earn you extra credit points, be cognizant of the opportunities as they are presented to you and have fun with this assignment – parenting can be FUN!!!
-IF you drop your egg in school, CLEAN UP after your egg immediately!!! It is not the job of the custodial staff to clean up after your child!!!
-If you are absent any of the attendance days, you are to work to earn extra credit points where available in hopes of receiving full credit, keep a journal on the days you and your egg are not in school.
-It is recommended that you bring a “diaper bag” with you wherever you go, including school (include items to clean-up, and any additional bits and pieces you feel you or your egg may need throughout the course of a day)
-It is well known that newborn eggs like to sleep in the refrigerator, just make it clear to all family members that this one is not to be eaten!!! It would be a shame to lose your egg at breakfast!
-Secure RELIABLE babysitting; a responsible parent will know in advance when they need a babysitter!
-All written work must be typed!
Sample Journal.
Important Dates
March 25th Adopt-an-Egg
March 26th – April 1stEgg Attendance and Journals
April 3rd - EggJournal and Reflection due