You Make the Rules

Young historians read and analyze a handful of George Washington's Rules of Civility. They attempt to explain what each means in "plain English" before responding to the actual comprehension of the rules. 

Explore the importance of rules in a community with the engaging first lesson of this series on the US government. To begin, children play a paper clip game that requires them to make up their own rules as they go, after which the...

Don't just talk about the rule of law and the importance of protecting individual rights and preserving the common good, have your class members experience it by acting in skits! Then follow the activity with several corresponding...

From a mind-mapping anticipation set to an interactive check for understanding activity, this resource is an excellent lesson on identifying major forms of government around the world and analyzing examples of real-world governments....

What makes an ideal citizen? How can we as individuals do to impact our communities in a positive way? Discuss this important concept with your class with an interactive, creative activity and follow-up role play.

Pupils generate a set of classroom rules and the consequences for breaking these rules. This list is then printed up and sent home for parents to sign.

Students analyze the Preamble of the Constitution and identify the historical context that led to its wording. They, in groups, interpret phrases from the Preamble, examine relevant court cases and create illustrations for their portion...

Students develop awareness of the necessity for rules and use logic to decide what rules make the classroom have a learning and caring atmosphere. They examine the choices they make have consequences.

Should public humiliation be an acceptable consequence for a crime? Have your middle schoolers engage in a round table discussion about the recent resurgence of the use of public humiliation as a punishment for crimes in the United...

Create your own classroom court. After studying courtroom proceedings, with a focus on the concept of a trial by a jury of your peers, pupils create a set of classroom rules and develop a procedure for solving conflicts. They then are...