Connect students directly to the concept in a personal way. Capture students' attention by initiating a group problem-solving activity before delivery of instruction. Begin with a situation that is familiar to students and builds on what they already know. Construct a learning experience that allows diverse and personal student responses. Facilitate the work of cooperative teams of students.

Love, Parents, Suicide, Fueds questionnaires.

Objective: To connect students to the experiences in their own lives of love, parents, suicide, feuds.

Activity: Class is divided into 4 cooperative groups. Teacher distributes a different topic questionnaire (love, parents, suicide, feuds) to the members of each group. Students first answer the questions alone; then join with other students who answered the same questions. Group leaders chart composite of all answers to be shared with the class as a whole.

LOVE PARENTS SUICIDE FEUDS

These four topics are personally important to you in some unique way. And they were personally important to William Shakespeare, the author of Romeo and Juliet, and to his audience in 16th century England. To understand what you have in common with people who lived 400 years ago, choose one of the following sets of questions and individually answer them. Add as much detail as possible to your new answers.

LOVE

1. What are the different kinds of love?
2. Is love different from friendship? Why or why not?
3. Who are some of the people you love? Why do you love them?
4. Are there responsbilities attached to love? Explain.
5. In what ways, if any, is the word "love" overused? Explain.
6. Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?

PARENTS

1. What problems do you live with that your parents created?
2. How are you like your parents?
3. How are you different from your parents?
4. How do your parents respond to your choice of friends? Boy/girlfriends?
5. In what areas do your parents try to restrict/confine you?
6. In what areas do your parents allow you to function autonomously?

SUICIDE

1. Have you ever contemplated suicide? If so, what was the situation that led you to the thought?
2. Have you ever known anyone who contemplated or attempted suicide? What led them to the attempt? As their friend, how did you feel about their suicide attempt?
3. Explain how you think a potential suicide victim feels.

FEUDS

1. What are some instances in which you have been involved in a feud? Explain the source of the feud as well as the two or more parties involved in the feud.
2. What was your role in the feud? Why were you in those roles?
3. Did the group ever "run" you? If so, explain how. If not, explain why not.
4. How was the feud settled? Who or what initiated the settlement?

Assessment: Involvement of students in the questionnaire experience, contributions to small and large groups, and the quality of group reports.