During September, classrooms all across America celebrate Constitution Day. September is the perfect time for the study of rights and responsibilities of citizenship. There are so many fun & engaging ways to dive into citizenship in your primary classroom.
What about Responsibilities?
Today in the news and online, there is no shortage of talk about rights. People are worried their rights are being stepped on. They are fighting for equality. However, the discussion about responsibilities is sorely lacking. No one talks about the responsibilities that lay the foundation for community.
Rights and Responsibilities: Yin & Yang
Using the Preamble of the Constitution as your primary source gives you a great place to start with Social Studies lessons on citizenship. The key to unlocking community understanding is the connecting of rights with responsibilities.
Helping your kids see that responsibilities ensure rights is the objective. Without citizens embracing their civic duties, there is no community.
Responsibilities at School
Since the school year has just begun, you’ll want to begin with responsibilities that come with being part of a class. Many teachers start the year with class helpers, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
When you think about it, school rules are all about making sure that students understand their responsibilities:
- in the classroom
- around the hallways
- on the playground
Rules also make sure that they don’t stomp on any else’s rights during the school day.
Responsibilities at Home
Most kids love to talk about their chores at home. But, when you broaden the topic of all jobs that need to be done in the home, kids can see the bigger picture. Parents will love when you help students realize all of the tasks needed to keep the family
Parents will love when you help the students realize all the jobs to keep the family’s right to be:
- healthy
- safe
- loved
Have students sort the responsibilities under those categories on the chart.
Responsibilities in the Community
Parents can share their civic duties such as voting, paying taxes, and obeying the law. Students might see responsibilities in the community as the job of adults. But, they need to see their role in the community.
But, even young students have duties to the community:
- wait your turn
- clean up your mess
- respect property
Citizenship Activities
Since most primary schedules have Social Studies in the afternoons, teachers make their lessons fun, engaging, and interactive. It’s the perfect time to get kids up and moving. They are full of chances for kids to practice speaking/listening.
Here are just a few ideas you could use in your Citizenship unit:
- Make an anchor chart for Rights & Responsibilities of each setting. Highlight those that are the same.
- Take class poll on child responsibilities at home. Compare & Contrast.
- Choose one responsibility for each setting. Have kids draw a mural what it would look like if no one did that job.
- Have students work in small groups to choose a right, and 3 responsibilities that go with it. (draw in 1st grade)
- Sort responsibilities and rights on the pocket chart.
I hope you got an idea or two that will get you started!
If you would like other Social Studies Lessons, check out the blog.
If you are short on time, and need a leg-up, click on one of the covers below to take a look at one of my rights & responsibilities resources.
Happy Teaching!
Jacque Jones
Taught Kinder-1st-2nd grade for 38 years in California & Kansas. Loves all things Gilmore Girls, Pikmin, & Kindle
Teacher auther - Social Studies Matters!