I+Love+You+Like+Crazy+Cakes+Reinforcing+Activity

Reinforcing Activity for I Love You Like Crazy Cakes:
After reading the book to the class, break students into groups of three or four. Have each group research a different country (including the U.S.) and record the following information: 1. the number of children adopted from each nation by Americans 2. the number of children adopted domestically from each nation 3. the number of children up for adoption that year 4. the challenges faced by parents attempting to adopt children from that nation A reliable website they can use if you choose to share one with them is [|childwelfare.gov].

The teacher should create a bar graph on a poster board so the students can communicate their results to the rest of the class. Label the poster "Number of Children Adopted by U.S. Citizens in 20__" and have one nation already recorded as an example for student additions. After they have recorded the requested information and discussed it, have students write their findings on the poster board. Once all of the data is on the graph, the class should reconvene to discuss the statistics together.

Sample questions for class discussion: How many families or individuals do you think are planning on adopting? How does this affect the number of children in orphanages and foster care? What countries do U.S. citizens adopt from most often? When children around five years or older are adopted, do you think they bring their own traditions with them? Do children without families in other countries develop traditions and cultural traits the same way children that live with parents do? What are the implications for families when a new culture is brought into the household?

Make sure the conversation focuses not only on adoption, but on the movement of ideas, culture, and people and the impact of such movements on society.

Additional Standards Geography, Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities, Social Studies Skills and Methods