Lesson

1. Rules: The Importance of

Rules in Our Country and in Our
Classroom
Introduction

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Teacher Materials
Paperclips
Paperclip Discussion Points

Student Materials
Rule Analysis sheet
What Went Wrong worksheet

OBJECTIVES
Students will understand the
importance of rules, and the
role the rules of the country
(the Constitution) plays in their
lives. Through the creation of
the classroom constitution,
students will understand the
process of creating and passing
laws.

This is the first lesson in the Kids Court curriculum,

instead of jumping right in to heavy materials, start off
with a couple of name games, and begin to get to know
your students (scroll for suggested games). After the
games, ease into the lesson plan; this lesson plan is
really pretty simple and it is made for law students to
ease into their new roles as teachers, just as much as it
is made for the children to familiarize themselves with
their new afterschool activity. All you really need to
know for this lesson is that rules are extremely
important, and that they govern most of our
interactions throughout each day. You should also try to
remember to breathe if this is your first time teaching!

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Adaptation
This activity is the kickoff to

the Kids Court program, so it

mostly keeps students
together as one big group.
However, depending on your
students that may be very
difficult. Any parts of the
paperclip game and rule
analysis portion of this activity
work really well in smaller
groups.

This activity also involves a lot
of sitting still. If the students
get antsy, the What Went
Wrong worksheet can easily
be turned into a physical
activity. Have the students try
to act out a couple of nearly
impossible physical tasks
because you want to ensure
that they are healthy during
Kids Court.

Lesson 1. Rules: The Importance of Rules in Our Country

and in Our Classroom

Activity: 1.5 2 hours

Start by playing the paperclip game with students. To play this
game place a pile of paperclips in front of a group of students
and tell them you thought they might want to play the
Paperclip Game. Even if students are confused, continue to
encourage them to play the game; after about five minutes,
break out into a discussion posing questions from Paperclip
Game Discussion Points.

After discussing the paperclip game, ask the students for
examples of rules (encourage or guide them by pointing out
specific places that have rules i.e. school, home, the
playground). Write two or three of these on the board. Have
the students analyze each of the rules written on the board
based on the questions on the Rule Analysis sheet.

Next, explain to the students that an important aspect of rules is
the need for clear and concise rules tailored to a specific goal.
To illustrate this aspect of rules have the children complete the
What Went Wrong? worksheet.

CORE CURRICULUM STANDARD:

5
TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARD 3.1.D & 3.2.C
Standard 3: Students will understand the rights and responsibilities guaranteed in the United States
Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Objective 1: Assess the underlying principles of the US Constitution.


d. Explain the process of passing a law.

Objective 2: Assess how the US Constitution has been amended and interpreted over

time, and the impact these amendments have had on the rights and responsibilities of

citizens of the United States.


c. Analyze the impact of the Constitution on their lives today (e.g. freedom of



religion, speech, press, assembly, petition).
2

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Adaptation
This activity is the kickoff to

the Kids Court program, so it

mostly keeps students
together as one big group.
However, depending on your
students, that may be very
difficult. Any parts of the
paperclip game and rule
analysis portion of this activity
work really well in smaller
groups.

This activity also involves a lot
of sitting still. If the students
get antsy, the What Went
Wrong worksheet can easily
be turned into a physical
activity. Have the students try
to act out a couple of nearly
impossible physical tasks
because you want to ensure
that they are healthy during
Kids Court, then discuss what
went wrong with the physical
fitness laws you made to keep
Kids Court students healthy.

Lesson 1. Rules: The Importance of Rules in Our Country

and in Our Classroom

Closure
Now that the students have a deeper understanding of
the importance of rules, and the importance of making
them carefully, begin to create a set of classroom rules.
For this portion of the rules activity, explain to the
students that they will make the classroom rules similar
to the way laws are made by the government. The
students will be similar to Congress, they will be able to
suggest the rules that they think are important, discuss
why each rule should become a part of the classroom
rules, and vote on rules before they are finalized. Also,
explain that the role of the teacher in this activity is
similar to the role of the president in the law making
process. The teacher has the final say on whether to
authorize the rules in the classroom, and the teacher has
the power to veto a rule if necessary. Make sure to write
down the classroom rules as they will be used numerous
times over the course of Kids Court.

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Lesson 1. Rules: The Importance of Rules in Our Country

and in Our Classroom

Rule Analysis

These are basic questions will can help you to critically think about rules.
You can use this tool evaluate a rule that someone else has made,
or to help you to create rules of your own.



a. What rule did the person make?

b. Who made the rule?

c. Why did the person think a rule was needed?

d. Aside from making a rule, what might be some other ways to deal with the
problem?

e. What are some things that might happen because of this rule?

f. What is wrong with this rule, if anything?

g. Would you keep this rule as it is, change it, or do away with it? Why?

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Lesson 1. Rules: The Importance of Rules in Our Country

and in Our Classroom
Paperclip Game Discussion Points

*This group discussion should last about 10 minutes. Below are a set of questions that try to
logically draw out the purposes and importance of rules. The class discussion may take off in a
different direction, so feel free to expand or skip questions to get to the point based on your
students and their discussion.

1. How did you react when you were told to play the paperclip game?

2. What made you react that way?

3. When you normally play a game how do you know what to do?

4. If there are no rules, or no one is following the rules of a particular game you are playing, what
happens?

5. Where else are rules important?

6. Knowing what happens without rules, what purposes do you think rules serve?

TEACHER TIP!
After you pose a
question, pause to give
students time to think.
If you answer your own
questions right away,
the students may think
you dont expect them to

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Lesson 1. Rules: The Importance of Rules in Our Country

and in Our Classroom

Brain Break!
Kids seem a bit antsy? Have they been sitting for more than 15-20 minutes? Give their brain, and
yours, a break with one of these activities. Afterward, theyll be more focused on the next activity.

Name and Action

Participants gather into a circle.

Select a person to start. That
person introduces him/herself
by saying their name and then
doing a simple action. Ex: Hi,
Im Betsy (does a jumping
jack)! The rest of the
participants respond saying Hi,
Betsy! and mimicking the
action. Then the next person
should introduce his/herself in
the manner. Again the rest of
the participants respond by
saying hi and repeating the
action, but they should also say
hi to the first person. The
game should continue in this
manner, as each participant
introduces him/herself the rest
of the participants should say hi
to that person, and say hi in
reverse order to all the other
people who have introduced
themselves.

So Do I

Name and Adjective

Participants gather into a circle.

Select a person to start. That
person introduces him/herself
by saying their name proceeded
by an adjective beginning with
the same letter as their name.
Ex: Hi, Im bubbly Betsy! The
rest of the participants respond
saying Hi, bubbly Betsy! Then
the next person should
introduce his/herself in the
same manner. Again the rest of
the participants respond by
saying hi, but they should also
say hi to the first person. The
game should continue in this
manner, as each participant
introduces him/herself the rest
of the participants should say hi
to that person and say hi in
reverse order to all the other
people who have introduced
themselves.

The participants sit in a circle,

either on the floor or ground
facing each other, or in chairs
facing OUT ward. If youre using
chairs, leave an opening on each
end of the circle or oval to allow
people to pass through. Use one
chair fewer than there are
players. One person stands in
the middle of the circle and says
his or her first name, and
something that is true about him
or herself. For example, My
name is Molly, and sometimes I
eat cold pizza for breakfast. If
anyone else in the circle eats
cold pizza for breakfast,
he/she/they stand up, say So
do I and run into the circle
looking for a new spot. Anyone
who stands up must sit down in
a spot OTHER THAN their
original one. The person left
standing is the next person to be
in the middle. Play until
everyone gets a chance or they
get bored of the game.

FOUNDATIONS UNIT

Name: ___________________

Lesson 1. Rules: The Importance of Rules in Our Country

and in Our Classroom

What Went Wrong?

Directions: Each of the following examples has a description of a problem and a rule that might help
deal with the problem. As you read the rules, see if you can find something wrong with each one.
Describe the problem with the rule, and you would fix it.

1. Mrs. Abernathy was angry because some students were coming to school late. She made the
following rule: Anyone who is late for school must stay after school two hours every day for a
month.



2. Some first-grade students were always getting out of their seats and disturbing those who were
working. Mr. Terranova read this rule to his first-grade class: Ambulatory privileges are henceforth
revoked pending further notification.



3. There was not enough room on the playground for everyone to use it at the same time. The
principal made this rule: Boys may use the playing field on Mondays only. Girls may use it the rest of
the week.



4. There were many problems in the country. The President made a new law which said: All people
must behave themselves.



5. Some students have been speaking too loudly at lunch time. The following rule was made: No
students may speak during lunch hour.



6. To help students become physically fit, the following rule was made: During recess, each student is
to jump over the school building three times.