Societal RulesYear: 3

OVERVIEW:Students will be involved in a discussion based around why our society needs rules and how they are beneficial to the safety and happiness of all members of society. The students will be placed into groups and then allocated a societal law/rule, they will then brainstorm with peers whether they believe the rule is fair or unfair and then modify it to suit them.

TIME DURATION / RESOURCES:30-60 minutes

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM:The Year 3 curriculum introduces students to democracy in the context of the familiar and personal. It explores an understanding of democracy as rule by the people through learning about decision making within communities. Students consider the purpose of creating rules for groups and how individuals participate in their community.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:Students should gain some understanding on why societal rules are put in place.Students will start developing ideas on how to respectfully elect a leader of a group.Students will start to gain an understanding that societal rules are put in place to protect the community.Students to start engaging in conversation about local laws and what they like/don’t like about them.

ADAPTATION/ SPECIAL CONSIDERATION:

Students who need an extra bit of help will be placed in groups with students that are able to provide the student with help and encouragement, which will also enhance peer learning and teaching.

STUDENT PRIOR KNOWLEDGE:

Students are aware that decisions are made democraticallyStudents know that we live in a democratic society.Students know rules are everywhere and they differ place to place.

INTRODUCTION:Bring students to the back of the classroom, when quiet enough start to introduce the topic of todays lesson “societal rules”.Introduce what a society is to the students, answering questions if needed.-ask students why they think society needs rules, give examples of a few rules-pick four students to answer the question

Explain to students why exactly rules have been put in place in society, how it is beneficial to the safety of its members.

-Ask students to think about what might happen if society didn’t have rules

BODY:Lead into activity:Ask students what rules that they need to follow in the community, do they think its fair and why do they think those rules have been put in place.

Allow a small discussion on the topic, transition into introducing the activity.

Discuss with students that they will be allocated into groups where each table will get their own individual societal rule or law. These rules must be relevant to students (nothing above them).

In each group, students will have to elect a speaker and a manager, the manager is required to keep the group on task whilst the speaker will inform the class of their rule/modification

The group is required to brainstorm whether they believe the rule is fair, or if they think it is unfair. Do they think the rule needs to be modified, if it does how would they modify it. At the end of the session the speaker will talk for 30seconds on what their law was and what they wanted to do with it

Send students off to do their group work for 20mins

call students back to the floor, asking the speaker of each group to stand up and stand next to the teacher chair.

Each speaker will take turns explaining their thoughts on the rule that they were given.

See attached sheet on the website, for activity questions.-these can be laminated for effective reuse.

CONCLUSION: Create discussion on the way students chose to modify their rules.

-did they do it to benefit the society/or to benefit themselves, and do the rules still protect society.

Does everyone agree with everyone’s rule changes yes/no give reasons.

Wrap up the lesson by reiterating that rules are put in place to keep everyone safe and happy.

SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE: Students are to only walk to and from their desks, no running within the

classroom Students are to ask to leave the classroom, before leaving! Students to be respectful of other students feelings.

PERSONAL REFLECTION:

TEACHER COMMENTS:

WAYS TO IMPROVE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT: