Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Research Project: Teenage Pregnancies in US States”

In this activity, students will work in small groups to research, write, and present a paper or other product examining teenage pregnancy rates in different US states.

After learning about Cindy’s pregnancy, Gabi worries that her best friend will “just become another statistic: Hispanic Teen Mom #3,789,258” (July 29). While Gabi’s concern relates to Hispanic girls specifically, teenage pregnancy is widespread throughout many US communities. Working in small groups, you will research the rates of teenage pregnancy rates in one US state and write a paper on your findings. Use the following questions to guide your research:

• In what state are you focusing your research? How does this state compare to other US states in terms of statistics?
• Within which ages are pregnancies considered teenage pregnancies?
• What are the reasons (if any) that this state reports high/low numbers of teenage pregnancies? (e.g., access to birth control methods/family planning clinics; developed/underdeveloped reporting mechanisms, etc.)
• What is the state doing to ameliorate the situation? (e.g., high school awareness programs, access to resources and support, etc.