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Name Date ClassActivity 2 Time Management SkillsAS YOU READ, learn the Vocabulary. AFTER YOU READ, check yourunderstanding through Fact and Idea Review, Critical Thinking Questions, and anExtension Activity.Planning for SuccessCopyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.One of the first things to do is tocreate a task list. Then set yourpriorities, which task should be donefirst, second, third, and so on. Now youare ready to set goals. It is best to setseveral small goals. You will enjoy afeeling of accomplishment each time youattain one of your goals.Another strategy is to schedule timeto work on your project. When will youwork on task A, B, and C? How muchtime will it take to complete task A, B,and C? When will you do it – afterschool, or work, on the weekend? Bycreating a detailed schedule, you willalso keep your work life and personallife in better balance. You can schedulefree time to help reduce stress. Somedown time will also help you focusbetter when you return to your project.You should also be flexible enough torework your schedule if necessary. If aline of inquiry takes longer to research,you may have to juggle your schedule.Your work environment is also animportant tool to helping you completeyour work. Keep your work space tidyand files organized. Set up yourcomputer, files, and desk for efficiency.Use your computer wisely; downloadcalendars or templates to optimize yourtime management. Labeling file folderswith accurate names and organizingthem by date will help you find themfaster. Once you complete your projectyou can sift through and delete ordiscard files that are no longer useful.Activity 2There is a Chinese proverb that saysthe journey of a thousand miles beginswith the first step. Time management isreally about taking a large overwhelmingtask and breaking it into smaller stepsthat you can accomplish. This is whensome people may procrastinate, but ifyou can create a plan to tackle yourproject, then you will feel more incontrol of your time and the project. Youwill also be more likely to succeed.Conversely, if you have set aside fourhours on a weekend and the task doesnot take that long to complete then youneed to rework your schedule.Keeping good records and organizingyour files is a good habit to start now. Itwill help you when you start working orstart your own business. Just like you,businesses need to manage time andorganize their files and record keeping.Every business must file taxes.Therefore, it is necessary to save all taxrelated forms, payroll and employeebenefits information, and any businessexpenses. In short, businesses must keepany and all information necessary to fillout a tax return or make a claim.You have 24 hours in a day. How youuse that time will decide how much youcan accomplish in a day. Timemanagement skills are key to getting themost out of your day. Remember, it’sreally about taking a lot of small steps toachieve your goal.Life Skills Workbook Activity 25

Name Date ClassVocabularypriorities judgments about the relative importance of alternativesgoals targets for what you want to accomplishprocrastinate to put off taking actionFact and Idea ReviewActivity 21. What tools can help you manage time?2. Describe strategies for time management.Critical Thinking4. Why is time management important to meeting your goals?6Activity 2 Life Skills WorkbookCopyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.3. How can you use time management skills to better balance your family time withschool or work?

Name Date Class5. What time management strategies work best for you and why?6. What time management skills do you need to develop or improve? How could youaccomplish this?Activity 2Extension ActivityCopyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Compile a list of time management strategies that work best for you. Explain thepurpose and importance of record keeping for you and for businesses, including what isappropriate to keep and discard.Life Skills Workbook Activity 27

Name Date ClassActivity 3 Consumer EthicsAS YOU READ, learn the Vocabulary. AFTER YOU READ, check yourunderstanding through Fact and Idea Review, Critical Thinking Questions, and anExtension Activity.Impact of Ethics Along with all thechoices, decisions, and informationconsumers must weigh, another one toconsider is ethical behavior. Would youreport it if you see someone you knowshoplifting? Would you buy a product ifyou knew it is made by a country thatignores labor laws or does not followsafe and ethical labor practices? Wouldyou buy a product from a company thatexcessively pollutes the environment?These are all ethical decisions you mayhave to make as a consumer and citizen.Ethics are like a moral compasspointing us in the right direction to makethe best decision.Consumers who act unethicallynegatively impact businesses but theyalso impact other consumers. Businessespass along the expense of unethicalactions to the general consumer in theform of higher prices. Shoppers whoreturn used clothing for refunds pass theburden of their unethical behavior to thenext customer who unknowingly buysthe used item, or the business cannotsell the item and may eventually have toraise prices to recover losses.Consumers can influence businessesto behave ethically, also. Someconsumers that are concerned ournonrenewable resources are runningout will not buy products that containplastic because they are made with oil.Some may only buy products packagedwith biodegradable materials to reducelandfill waste.8Activity 3 Life Skills WorkbookOther consumers may not buy aproduct at all, by boycotting it, to showhow strongly they feel about an issue.For example, suppose you find out thatyour favorite product, and also the leastexpensive choice, was made by acompany that employed unethicalpractices. Would you still buy the product?The company may choose to allow theproducer to ignore safe and ethical laborpractices to produce a product with lowercosts. This would allow the company tosell the product at a cheaper price due toreduced production costs. A boycott ofthis item may result in ethical practicesbut also possibly higher prices. Knowingpossible outcomes, would you boycott theproduct?Impact of Leadership This sort ofleadership by individual consumers canimpact the world. Good leaders canimprove our world by bringing peopletogether to resolve problems. Goodleaders possess skills such as identifyinggroup goals, listening to ideas andconcerns, recognizing otherscontributions, building consensus, andmaking decisions.Whether you volunteer in yourcommunity to clean up your park orwork in a retail store, these skills willhelp you communicate with neighborsand customers alike. Today you are theconsumer, but one day you may be thatemployee. Learning good habits liketreating people respectfully,communicating clearly and calmly, andwaiting your turn will go a long way togetting better results.Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Activity 3Ethics and Leadership

Name Date ClassVocabularyethics values about right and wrong that serve as guidelines for human behaviornonrenewable resources natural resources that cannot replace themselvesbiodegradable able to decompose naturally in the environmentleadership the ability to inform and guide othersFact and Idea Review1. What is ethical behavior?2. What are some examples of ethical issues that consumers may encounter?Activity 3Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.3. What skills does a good leader possess?4. How does being an ethical consumer translate to being an ethical employee? Whydo you think employers value these skills?Critical Thinking5. Why is it important that consumers behave ethically?Life Skills WorkbookActivity 39

Name Date Class6. How can you demonstrate consumer ethics and professionalism for others?7. How can you demonstrate leadership skills?Extension ActivityThere are various ethical issues that impact consumers and businesses such asboycotting products or businesses, returning used goods. Describe an ethical issue youhave encountered while shopping. Describe a time you felt strongly about an issue thatit influenced what you purchased, or did not purchase. What do role consumers have inpromoting ethical behavior?10Activity 3 Life Skills WorkbookCopyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Activity 38. How can you apply these skills and abilities to another job or aspect of your life?

Name Date ClassActivity 4 Work-Life BalanceAS YOU READ, learn the Vocabulary. AFTER YOU READ, check yourunderstanding through Fact and Idea Review, Critical Thinking Questions, and anExtension Activity.Balancing Your Work andPersonal LifeWhen you complete your formaleducation you will have to find a job thatsuits your skills and abilities. You willneed to consider the schedule, the pay,and if you enjoy the work. The moreexperience you have working, the greaterthe likelihood that you will increase yourpay, position, and standard of living.But, aside from these things, you haveother things to consider. How well doesyour job fit with your life and your family?Does it require a lot of travel, a relocation,long hours at the office away from home?Weighing these things carefully will helpyou balance you work and family life.Many employers have standard familyfriendly policies such as, telecommuting,flextime, where you set your own hours,and employee assistance programs thatoffer counseling for personal or healthissues.Other organizations offer services likecareer support. There is likely a place inyour community that offers jobassistance for people who have lost ajob, are considering a career change, orwho want to explore other careeroptions. Through job support and jobretraining classes, people learn whataptitudes they have that can be ofservice to their community or to a newemployer. Being good at managingmoney, solving problems, orcommunicating with others are skillsthat can serve an employer orcommunity well. These organizationsalso offer informal support networkssuch as practice interview sessions orgroup discussions.Activity 4Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.There are a variety of programs,resources, and public policies to helpworkers strike this balance.There are also local, state, andnational organizations that provideassistance to support families. Forexample, the Grandparent Network is anon-profit agency that connects familieslooking for the experience of an oldermentor. These grandparents offeradvice, care, and emotional support tofamilies who do not have grandparentsof their own to fulfill that role.In 1993, there was a public policy shiftto support families when the Family andMedical Leave Act (FMLA) was signedinto law. Before FMLA became law,employees requesting time off to care forfamily could be denied for any reason, oreven fired. With FMLA employees do nothave to be afraid they will lose their jobwhen they ask for time off to care for asick parent or to have a baby.Life Skills Workbook Activity 411

Name Date ClassVocabularystandard of living the way you live as measured by the kinds and quality of goods andservices you can affordmentor an experienced coworker who acts as a guide or informal teacher foremployeesFact and Idea Review1. How does the Family and Medical Leave Act affect families?2. What kinds of resources are available that support families?Critical ThinkingActivity 44. What impact does legislation like Family and Medical Leave Act have on a family?5. What impact do community groups have on a family?12Activity 4 Life Skills WorkbookCopyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.3. What skills are necessary to provide help to a community?

Name Date Class6. What skills are needed to provide services to the community?Extension ActivityActivity 4Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Take a look around where you live. What kinds of community resources are availablefor people in your community? What kinds of formal and informal support networks areoffered? Do these resources benefit families? Select a local issue in your communityand explain how you could help resolve it through participation. Draft a plan to addressthis issue in your community. To develop your own community participation skills, listthe skills required to address this issue and how you can develop these skills.Life Skills Workbook Activity 413

Name Date ClassActivity 5 Giving Back14Making a Difference inthe CommunityThey will also show how much of thatmoney went directly to programs andservices to help people.Philanthropy is about making an activeeffort to improve the welfare of others.Booker T. Washington said “If you wantto lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”Many people volunteer for variousreasons such as to give back to theircommunity, or they have a personalconnection to a particular cause.Volunteering brings different types ofpeople together for a common cause orgoal. It also helps create communities ofpeople that care about one another.People feel better after volunteering,which improves their quality of life. Astudy by the University of Michigan onvolunteer and non-volunteers with ahistory of heart problems found that thevolunteers had less chest pain and lowercholesterol levels than the nonvolunteers. Whatever the reason peoplevolunteer, there is a personal reward tobe found in helping others.Nonprofits function like a businessbut instead of a product to sell and profitfrom, it provides a program or service topeople. If a nonprofit has additionalmoney that it raises, it will reinvest thatmoney into programs and services tohelp others. A business would use thatextra money to pay the owners orshareholders. A nonprofit will dofundraising events like walks or dinnersto raise money to pay for their programsand staff salaries. It might also apply forgrants from foundations andphilanthropists to pay for programsand services.When considering a nonprofitorganization to volunteer for, you shoulddo some research. Ask friends and familyabout the nonprofit to see what kind ofreputation it has. You can do your ownresearch online at these websites, theBetter Business Bureau, GuideStar,CharityNavigator, and the AmericanInstitute of Philanthropy’s CharityWatch.These sites provide information aboutthe charity such as how much money itraised and how much of that money waspaid in salaries and office equipment.Activity 5 Life Skills WorkbookJust like a business, a nonprofit mustfile taxes. All nonprofits file a 990 taxform with the Internal Revenue Servicethat lists all of its financial informationlike salaries, who is on the board, andwhat amount was spent on programs.Nonprofits that spend the most onprograms will have a greater impact onthe people they are helping. Those thatspend more on salaries do not servetheir clients as well. Volunteer service,charities, and philanthropy all serve tocreate better communities by making adifference in people’s lives.Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Activity 5AS YOU READ, learn the Vocabulary. AFTER YOU READ, check yourunderstanding through Fact and Idea Review, Critical Thinking Questions, anExtension Activity, and a Research Activity.

Name Date ClassVocabularyvolunteer a person who offers services to a worthwhile cause for no payFact and Idea Review1. Where can you go online to research charities?2. What kind of information do these Web sites provide about charities?Critical Thinking4. Why is it important that people volunteer?Activity 5Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.3. Describe how a nonprofit charity functions as a business?Life Skills Workbook Activity 515

Name Date Class5. How does volunteering in your community enrich your community and improve thequality of life of others?Extension ActivityActivity 5Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Contact a local charity in your area and ask to interview their volunteers to betterunderstand the concept of volunteer service and philanthropy. Ask them why theyvolunteer and how it benefits their community. What role does philanthropy,volunteering, and charities have in developing communities and improving the quality oflife? Summarize your results.16Activity 5 Life Skills Workbook

Name Date ClassResearch ActivityDirections Using the information from Activity 5, answer the questions and complete the activity.1. Have you participated in a student organization? What did you do and did youprovide a service to your community?2. What kinds of skills are needed when developing and implementing activities?Activity 5Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Research a local or national environmental issue. Create a plan for a campaign thatraises awareness of the environmental issue. Present your plan.Life Skills Workbook Activity 517

Name Date ClassActivity 6Activity 6 Choosing a CareerAS YOU READ, learn the Vocabulary. AFTER YOU READ, check yourunderstanding through Fact and Idea Review, Critical Thinking Questions, anExtension Activity, and a Research Activity.Researching CareersWhen you were young you may have wanted to grow up to be a firefighter oranimal trainer. Today your career goals have likely changed along with your interests.There are personality tests and inventories you can take to assess your aptitudes andto help you narrow your areas of interest. Once you have established your interests,skills, and aptitudes you should consider careers and salaries. The U.S. LaborDepartment tracks hundreds of occupations. It tracks how many people are in thesejobs and their annual average salaries.Animal TrainersAverage Salary9,740 31,110Athletes12,660 87,340Cashiers3,354,170 19,810Computer programmers333, 620 74,900Civil Engineers249,120 82,280Dieticians and Nutritionists53,510 54,340Forest and Conservation Technicians32,290 36,860302,400 47,730Floral Designers47,850 25,030Food Scientists10,480 65,380Lawyers561,350 129,440Librarians148,240 56,360Occupational Health and Safety Specialists54,680 65,610Pharmacy Aides49,580 22,830FirefightersAs you can see, often the average annual salaries correspond with the amount ofeducation and experience required. Within each of these jobs there are differences inwhat each business offers its employees in the way of benefits. One job may have agreat salary but no health insurance, while another may pay less but has healthinsurance and a great training program for advancement.18Activity 6 Life Skills WorkbookCopyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Employed

Name Date Class(Continued) cover hospital, surgery, and doctors’ expenses. provide full room and board for a hospital stay.Activity 6When assessing a company’s health insurance, consider what you think healthcoverage should cover at a minimum for you and for a family. For example, you mightexpect coverage to limit out of pocket expense to 3,000 per year. pay 80 percent after a yearly 500 deductible amount has been met. have no unreasonable exclusions.Some companies suppl

also keep your work life and personal life in better balance. You can schedule free time to help reduce stress. Some down time will also help you focus better when you return to your project. You should also be flexible enough to rework your schedule if necessary. If a line of inquiry takes longer to research, you may have to juggle your schedule.