The document discusses the issue of parents leaving young children unattended in vehicles. It describes a scenario where a mother leaves her 2-year-old son asleep in a locked car with the window down an inch while she shops. The child is rescued by the fire department near death due to the heat. The doctors say the child may have brain damage in the future. The document prompts discussion of legal and ethical issues around leaving children unattended in vehicles. It provides questions and resources for further research on cases, laws, and how to prevent such incidents.

1. ABSENT MINDED PARENTS
AND DISASTER
REAL WORLD PROBLEMS
BY DEAN BERRY, ED. D. 1

2. THE PROBLEM
On a very hot day in July, a mother and her two year old son
drive into a small parking lot and park. The mother leaves a
window down an inch and decides to leave her son asleep in
the car seat while she runs into the store. While in the store,
she finds some great sale items and loses track of time. By the
time she gets back to the car, the fire department has arrived
and rescued her son from near death. At the hospital, the
doctors told the mother that her son may show signs of brain
damage in the future.
2

3. PAIR SHARE
Meet in pairs
or small
groups and
discuss the 3

4. THINK& DISCUSS
• Would it have been better to
leave the car running with the
AC on?
• Should the mom have left the
windows down?
• Would it have been better if the
mom went into the store for
only 5 minutes?
• Should the mom have left the
child alone even for a minute?
• Is the mom guilty of a crime?
4

5. REPORT BACK
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
.
1. Let’s summarize possible
answers to our question.
2. Include these ideas in your
notes.
3. You may choose to use a
graphic organizer.
5

6. PREPARE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUES
•Now it is time to research various points of
view and legal positions. Include any court
cases or rulings that may lend support to
your position.

7. RESEARCH
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• 1. What does the law say about leaving young
children in the car alone?
• 2. How have these types of cases been treated
by the courts in the past?
• 3. How is it different if the parent was confused
and thought the other parent took the child into
the house before he/she drove to work? Would
the charges be different from a case where the
parent left the child knowingly to run an errand?
• 4. How common are these types of cases?
• 5. How can we help prevent these cases in the
future?

8. RESEARCH NOTES
•Collect a minimum of 2-3 pages of notes
•Gather information that will enable you to write
a short two page essay

9. SHOPPERS RESCUE BABY FROM LOCKED,
HOT CAR.
1 MIN
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwOh
X7v-0Nk

10. POLICE RESCUE CHILD FROM LOCKED CAR
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LnYqX03Pck0

11. DEMONSTRATION OF MON LEAVING
YOUNG CHILD IN CAR 7 MIN SAFETY
FILM
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=XNDWN8KDVSM

12. MOM ARRESTED AFTER LEAVING TWO
YOUNG KIDS IN LOCKED CAR 2 MIN
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=HNTm_c6ndcA

13. CEO OF HOSPITAL LEAVES CHILD IN HOT
CAR
• http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92943

14. FATHER CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR
LEAVING
CHILD IN HOT CAR
• http://www.kpho.com/story/23494938/father-facing-murder-
charge-after-son-left-in-car-dies

15. FATHER FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN BABY’S
DEATH
• http://www.8newsnow.com/story/1310388/baby-left-alone-
in-hot-van-dies

16. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE LEAVE CHILDREN IN HOT
CARS?
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/what-parent-
leaves-child-in-broiling-car_n_3497956.html

17. MOTHER LEAVES BABY IN CAR SO SHE CAN
GAMBLE
• http://www.wbaltv.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel-
county/police-mother-leaves-child-unattended-while-in-
maryland-live-casino/23725558

18. MOTHER LEAVES BABY IN HOT CAR WITH A
NOTE TELLING OTHERS TO LET HER KNOW IF THERE IS A
PROBLEM
• http://gawker.com/5992277/mother-goes-shopping-leaves-
baby-inside-car-with-note-asking-passers-by-to-call-her-
with-any-problems/all

19. MOM ENTERS PLEA DEAL FOR BABY IN CAR
CHARGE
• http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Zoraida-
Hernandez-Mom-Who-Left-Baby-in-Hot-Car-Enters-Plea-
Deal-241850981.html

20. JUDGE DISMISSES MANSLAUGHTER
CONVICTION
FOR DAD WHO LEFT CHILD IN CAR
• http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/09/3742780/judge-
dismisses-manslaughter-case.html

21. CHILD IN CAR CASES MORE COMMON THAN
EXPECTED
• http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-
10/hot-cars-children-deaths/56125706/1

22. REVIEW YOUR RESEARCH NOTES
Write an Essay
on the Topic
Using your Research Notes

23. PREPARE TO WRITE
•Is it ever okay to leave
children alone?
•What should happen to a
parent who endangers
children by leaving them
alone?
•Explain your argument
by giving reasons with
supporting details. 23

24. Organize your
ideas and prepare
to write an essay
about the issue.

25. ORGANIZE YOUR IDEAS
•Review all of your notes
from the group discussion.
•Select the most important
ideas.
•Choose facts and examples
to support each important
25

26. DEVELOP A WRITING PLAN
• Determine what your main point
will be, and write a topic sentence
that provides focus for your essay.
• Choose several main ideas that
support your topic sentence.
• Sort your information into
supporting details with facts and
examples. 26

27. DETAILS MUST SUPPORT
THE MAIN IDEAS
Provide specific facts,
examples, and reasons
for each main idea in the
body of your essay

28. ESSAY
FORMAT
28
Essay-Case 10
Introduction
Clear statement of main
idea
Body
3 supporting reasons with
details
and examples
Conclusion
Review your main idea and
summarize your best
reasons

29. PREPARE TO
WRITE
•Write a five paragraph
essay about the issue.
•As you write your
rough draft, it will be
very important to use
special words that
enable you to
transition smoothly
29

30. TRANSITION WORDS
As you view these words, select the
words that help you make
transitions smoothly from one idea
to the next.
• as a result
• such as
• for example
• nevertheless
• for that reason
• finally
• at this time
• therefore
• furthermore
• in addition
• in conclusion
• as well as
30

31. WRITE THE ROUGH DRAFT
Use the Five
Paragraph format
that includes an
Introductory
Paragraph, Body,
and Conclusion

32. PAIR SHARE
EDITING
Work in pairs to
edit and improve
your essay. Read
each other’s essays
“out loud” and
offer specific
suggestions for
improvement.

33. REVIEW, EDIT, AND REWRITE
1. Re-read your essay several times.
2. How can you improve your sentences to communicate
more clearly?
3. Are your main ideas supported by examples and details?
4. Exchange papers with another student and read each
other’s essay out loud.
5. Make final corrections and write a final draft of your
polished essay. 33

34. FINAL
DRAFT
Use what you
have learned from
your review
process and write
your final draft.

35. BRING YOUR COMPLETED PAPER
TO THE NEXT CLASS SESSION.
The next step will
be to present your
ideas to your small
group for review
and analysis.
35

36. MEET IN SMALL GROUPS TO CROSS EXAMINE STUDENTS AS
THEY PRESENT THEIR PAPERS
• Analyze solutions and evidence presented by group members.
• Ask challenging questions when group members present their positions. Look
for evidence that is sufficient to support clear, logical arguments.
• Ask group members to defend the credibility and reliability of their
sources.

37. SHARE YOUR IDEAS
WITH THE GROUP
During this evaluation phase, class members will
share ideas, analyze arguments, and review the
main issues of the problem. Students will be
prepared to participate by contributing their ideas
and supporting evidence.
37

38. DEFEND YOUR POSITION
As you present your paper to your group,
clearly state your position on the issue and
review the main points of your argument. Be
sure to cite specific facts and examples that
support each point you are making. Include
evidence that substantiates all claims.
38