Lesson Plan: The Importance of Rules

Grade: 1^st grade

­­­­­­­Time: One class period

NCSS Standards: Standard 10. Civic Ideals and Practices

NYSS Standards: Standard 5. Civics, Citizenship, and Government

ELA Standards: 1C. Students select and use strategies they have been taught for note taking, organizing, and categorizing information
4C. Students recognize the kind of interaction appropriate for different circumstances, such as story hour, group discussions, and one-on-one conversations.

Objectives: Students will recognize the importance and necessity of rules in everyday life.

Concept: Rules

Generalization: Rules are important and necessary in our everyday life.

Interest Building: Ask students how they would feel if their parents did away with rules in their house. There are no more rules concerning their bedtime, they don't have to brush their teeth, and they don't have to clean up their toys. Give students a minute to think about this and talk amongst themselves about it. Then tell students, this may seem fun at first, but now think about what might happen after a few days of no rules. They'll be very tired every day at school and they may develop cavities in their teeth. Without cleaning up their stuff after themselves, people could trip on the things on the floor and they'll probably have a hard time finding things they need when they're not in their place.

Lesson Development:

1.Explain that rules help things move in an orderly way and keep things from getting too hectic. ­­­­­­­­­­­­

2.Ask students to think of why we have certain rules.

3.Ask if anyone knows what the word 'consequence' means. Explain that there are usually consequences when rules aren't followed, such as when a driver going too fast gets a ticket, or, worse, gets into an accident. Ask students to think of some rules and their consequences if they are broken.

4.On the chalkboard or smartboard make a chart with three columns. Write 'Home', 'School', and 'Outside' on the top of each column. As a class, come up with rules that can be classified into one of the three categories.

Summary

Go over the classroom rules with students. Ask them to turn and talk with a partner about why they think each rule is important.

Assessment

Pass out an index card to each student. Have them write a rule that they have to follow at home or at school. Then have them exchange cards with a partner. Have each student write, on the back of their partner's card, what could happen if they didn't follow that rule.

Materials: Index cards, smartboard or chalkboard

Integration: Writing: Have students write about the importance of rules. Have them include an example of a rule and what might happen if it's broken.