Unit 3 - Lesson 2
Lifespan Development: Physical, Cognitive, and Social-Emotional Growth
Unit: Development and Learning | Lesson: 2 of 3 | Topic: Lifespan Development: Physical, Cognitive, and Social-Emotional Growth AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25% of exam score Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by engaging in the activities and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring how development across the lifespan influences behavior, a key concept in developmental psychology. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically. This lesson uses a timeline-building, role-play simulation, and personal timeline reflection to vary the activities, emphasizing experiential learning for developmental stages.
Quick Concept Flash
Purpose: Activate prior knowledge on developmental stages.
Activity: As a class, watch clip on lifespan stages and jot some stages and their key behavior changes. (e.g., "Adolescence: Abstract thinking emerges").
Your Note:
Core Content: Interactive Timeline Building
Instructions: Read the core content below and build a simple timeline on paper or digital tool. Mark 4–5 stages (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age) and note one physical, cognitive, and social-emotional change per stage. Highlight one example of how environmental factors (e.g., parenting) influence a stage.
Content: Lifespan development examines physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes from birth to old age.
Physical development includes motor skills in childhood and declines in aging (e.g., walking vs. reduced mobility).
Cognitive development (Piaget) involves stages like sensorimotor (learning through senses) and formal operations (abstract thinking).
Social-emotional development (Erikson) includes stages like trust vs. mistrust in infancy and generativity vs. stagnation in middle age. Example: A toddler learns to walk (physical) and trusts caregivers (social-emotional).
Attachment theory (Bowlby) explains how early bonds affect relationships (e.g., secure attachment predicts healthy adult connections). Developmental milestones influence behaviors like independence or empathy. Environmental factors, like parenting or culture, shape development across stages.
Your Timeline Sketch (describe or draw key stages):
- Infancy: _______________________________
- Childhood: _______________________________
- Adolescence: _______________________________
- Adulthood: _______________________________
- Old Age: _______________________________
Environmental Influence Example: _______________________________
Riddle Writing"Life Stages in Action"
Riddle-Writing Activity: "Developmental Riddles" Purpose: Apply concepts by creating riddles that describe developmental stages.
Activity: Choose any 3 stages of development. Write a riddle for each stage that incorporates physical, cognitive, and social-emotional aspects from the lesson.
Share with the class, then debrief: How did the riddle highlight key developmental concepts?
Your Group’s Riddle Outline (one riddle per stage):
- Stage 1: __________________________________________________________________
- Stage 2: __________________________________________________________________
- Stage 3: __________________________________________________________________ Debrief Note (one key insight): __________________________________________________________________
Personal Reflection: My Developmental Timeline
Purpose: Synthesize knowledge by reflecting on personal growth.
Activity: Individually, create a personal timeline of your development (birth to now). Choose 3 stages and note one change in physical, cognitive, and social-emotional areas.
Connect to one theory (Piaget or Erikson) and one environmental factor (e.g., family).
Your Personal Timeline:
- Stage 1 (e.g., Childhood): Physical/Cognitive/Social-Emotional Change: _______________________________
- Stage 2 (e.g., Adolescence): Physical/Cognitive/Social-Emotional Change: _______________________________
- Stage 3 (e.g., Now): Physical/Cognitive/Social-Emotional Change: _______________________________
Theory & Environmental Connection: _______________________________
AP Exam Practice
Instructions: Answer the FRQ below. We’ll review as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ): Explain how physical development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development interact to influence a specific behavior (e.g., independence, learning, or relationships). Provide one example for each factor (physical, cognitive, social-emotional) and analyze how they interact to shape the behavior.
Closure and Timeline Share
Purpose: Summarize and share insights.
Activity: Write one key takeaway (e.g., “Development is interactive—physical changes enable cognitive growth”). Share one stage from your personal timeline with a partner.
Your Key Takeaway: _______________________________
Partner’s Insight: _______________________________
Extended Practice
Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.
- Review your timeline, script, and reflection.
- Write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) applying one developmental stage to a real-life example (e.g., “How adolescence’s identity crisis affects teen friendships”). Explain one interaction between physical, cognitive, and social-emotional factors.
- Find a short article or study on lifespan development (e.g., via apa.org) and write 1–2 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).