Social Studies Unit 1: I Am a Citizen of Many Communities
1.C&G.1 Understand The Importance Of Rules
Standards
1.C & G.1.1 Explain
why rules are
needed in the
home, school and
community.
1.C & G. 1.2
Classify the roles of
authority figures in
the home, school
and community
(teachers,
principal, parents,
mayor, park
rangers, game
wardens etc.)
Essential
Question
Activity
Rules are needed to promote fairness and resolve conflicts in the home, school and community.
Why are rules
A parent’s role is to create rules at home to promote fairness, ensure safety and resolve
needed in my
conflict.
home?
Day 1: Read and discuss The Little Red Hen
Day 2: Teacher creates a shared chart of the various rules in the home. Discuss why these
rules are important and what would happen if they were not enforced.
My Family Works Together
(A FEW EXAMPLES)
Rules that make my home fair place:
Rules that make my home a safe place
Everyone shares the jobs
Walk in the house
Mom’s jobs: make dinner..
Sit on the furniture
Dad’s jobs: mow grass..
Keep shoes in the closet
My jobs: wash dishes….
Put toys away after using them
Sister’s jobs: make bed Everyone can use
public places
Rules that help us resolve conflict at home
Timer for computer
Share the bathroom
Jobs on special days
We can disagree
voting
Day 3: Assessment: Use rubistar to create class rubrics for evaluating student work.
Make a mini book. Students fold paper into 4 parts. Cut on the folds. Title: My Family Works
Together. Students write/draw an example of one or more of their family rules. On the other
side of each box, write/draw why this rule is needed. Students share papers with a partner
and compare similarities and differences.
Resources
Chart paper
8.5x11 paper, crayons,
pencil
Homework: Students
complete a weekly job
chart
The Little Red Hen
Why do we need
rules in our
classroom?
Day 4: Students create a job chart to be completed for homework. Build excitement by
gluing the chart to construction paper, decorating the edges and attaching a strip of 5 stickers
to the back of the chart.
A teacher’s role in the classroom is to promote fairness, ensure safety and resolve conflict.
We are citizens of our classroom community. Citizens follow rules to keep their group safe.
Day 5: Read and discuss: David Goes to School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybqNYWqYQp4&feature=related
Chart paper/markers
David Goes to School
Day 6: Teacher creates a shared chart of the various rules in the class. Discuss why these rules
are important and what would happen if they were not enforced.
My Class Works Together
(A FEW EXAMPLES)
Rules that make my classroom a fair place: Rules that make my classroom a safe place
Differences are respected
Walk in the classroom
Everyone shares the jobs
Sit on the chairs
Teacher: provide books, pencils
Take care of supplies
Student: raise hand, Everyone can use
Put materials away after using them
public places
Rules that help us resolve conflict in our
classroom
Timer for computer
Stop/Go on the bathroom door
Jobs on special days
We can disagree
voting
8.5x11 lined paper for
letter writing
Day 7: Assessment: Use rubistar to create class rubrics for evaluating student work.
Write a letter to David telling him the rules to follow and why following rules is important.
Day 8: Children create a classroom job chart and problem solve a fair system for selecting
helpers and ensuring students do his/her job. http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/freeresources/routines-and-procedures/class-jobs
Why do we need
rules in our
school?
Day 9 A principal and teacher’s role in the school is to promote fairness, ensure safety and
resolve conflicts. We are citizens of our school community. Citizens follow rules to keep
their group safe.
WCPSS Parent/Student
Handbook
Your school
Show and describe the function of the WCPSS Parent/Student Handbook and your school
parent/student handbook
parent/student
handbook
Chart paper
Watch Officer Buckle and Gloria. Discuss
Day 8: Teacher creates a shared chart of the various rules in the school. Discuss why these
rules are important and what would happen if they were not enforced.
Officer Buckle and
Gloria
My School Works Together
(A FEW EXAMPLES)
Rules that make my school a fair place:
Rules that make my school a safe place
Everyone shares the jobs: cafeteria,
Walk in the halls
classroom, keep hallways clean
Walk on the right side
All classrooms have the same materials
Car pool, bus procedures
All children can borrow books in the library, Playground rules
use art materials, PE equipment
Cafeteria rules
Differences are respected
PE rules
Everyone can use public places
Rules that help us resolve conflict in our
school
Walk in line
Quiet voices in the hall
Raise hand to talk
We can disagree
Keep your hands and feet to yourself
Voting
Stan in lines
Day 10: Assessment: Use rubistar to create class rubrics for evaluating student work.
Why do we need
rules in our
community?
Students work in groups to illustrate these rules. Post them throughout the building or make
into a class book. Groups: playground rules, cafeteria rules, hallway rules, bathroom rules,
etc.
Responsible citizens and community leader’s role is to promote fairness, ensure safety and
resolve conflicts. We are citizens of our community. Citizens follow rules/laws to make our
community a good place to work, learn and play.
United Streaming
Video: Community
Rules and Laws
Day 11: United Streaming Video: Community Rules and Laws
Or read related books
or select books from your school library.
Day 12: Teacher creates a shared chart of the various rules in the community. Discuss why
these rules are important and what would happen if they were not enforced.
My Community Works Together
(A FEW EXAMPLES)
Rules that make my community a fair place Rules that make my community a safe
Differences are respected
place
Everyone can use public places,
Walk on the sidewalk
transportation
Drive on the right side
We are free to speak our thoughts
Drive/walk at green light
Lawn watering schedule
Bike/walk in the direction of traffic
taxes
Wear your seatbelt
Helmet to ride bike/skateboard
Rules that help us resolve conflict in our
Pets on a leash
community
Speed limit
Stand in lines
Voting
Put your trash in a can
Courts for disagreements
Day 13-14: Assessment: Use rubistar to create class rubrics for evaluating student work.
Make a brochure advertising the community as a great place to live, work and play. Students
fold paper into 3 parts. Title: My Community Works Together. Students write/draw an
example of one or more of their community rules and explain why this rule is needed. Send
completed brochures to the local town hall or department of tourism.
or
Read: The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. Children begin to write and illustrate
poems about their community.
The important thing about my community is… (follows book)
Name several important things about our community
But the important thing about my community is (repeat beginning)
Illustrate and assemble into a book. Copy for the class.
Authority figures in the home, school, and community influence the well being of people
about community rules
and laws from your
school library
1.C & G.1.3
Summarize various
ways in which
conflict could be
resolved in homes,
schools,
classrooms, and
communities
What are some
ways conflict
could be resolved
in my home,
school,
classroom and
community?
Day 15-17
Assessment: Use rubistar to create class rubrics for evaluating student work.
Teacher provides students with conflict situations on cards. Select the rules your students are
having difficulty following at home, school and community. Students work in groups of 2-3
students to plan a resolution. Groups share with the class.
EXAMPLES
1. Home-siblings won’t share, don’t want to eat certain food, shoes left in the hall
2. School-running in the hall, throwing trash on the floor, student won’t share ball
3. Classroom-student bothering you during writing, student won’t share markers,
student drops pencils on the floor
4. Community-not wearing seatbelt, walking in the street, throwing trash on the ground.
Day 18: Create a classroom problem solving code of cooperation such as the Wheel of Choice
Read books from the
school library about
Mean Jean the Recess
Queen
Book list:
Conflict Resolution
Book List
Personal conflict/
resolution interactive
activity
Community conflict/
resolution video
12 minutes
Iggy and Arbuckle: Videos: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/cartoons-tvmovies-kids/iggy-arbuckle-kids/1/
Day 19-20 Unit Assessments (Pick one): Use rubistar to create class rubrics for evaluating student work.
1. Write a letter to the Little Red Hen stating the rules that would help her get the cooperation of her farm community. Include rules for fairness, safety and
resolve conflict.
2. Plan a skit or use paper bag puppets to retell The Little Red Hen, Officer Buckle and Gloria and/or David Goes to School with the characters following the
rules.
3. Extend one of the stories by writing or acting out the next part of the story with the characters acting cooperatively by following a set of agreed upon
rules.
4. Work with a group to make a board game like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders . Students make cards with pictures of people following rules at home,
school and community.
Choose
another
activity
Tell
them how
you feel
Walk away
Wheel of
Choice
It bugs me
when you…I
wish you
would….
Tell
them to stop
Cool down…..
Count to 10
I’m sorry
I Have Jobs that Help My Family
Job Chart For:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Job 1:
Job 2:
Directions: Select 2 jobs that you do to help your family. Place a sticker/check in the box after you
complete your job. Bring the chart back to school when you have completed you’re your job chart.
I Have Jobs that Help My Family
Job Chart For:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Job1:
Job 2:
Directions: Select 2 jobs that you do to help your family. Place a sticker/check in the box after you
complete your job. Bring the chart back to school when you have completed your job chart.