Title – Rights and Responsibilities

By – Amber

Primary Subject – Social Studies

Grade Level – 4-5

Objectives: The student will work with a partner to determine specific rights and responsibilities they have as a U.S. citizen.
Time Frame: 30 minutes

Materials:

• pencil
  
• group sheet – Rights and Responsibilities
  
• clipboards

Standards:

CIVICS/GOV’T STANDARD 1: The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of governmental systems of the U.S. and other nations with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, the necessity for the rule of law, the civic values of the American republican government, and the rights, privileges, and responsibilities to become active participants in the democratic process.
BENCHMARK 1: The student understands the rule of law as it applies to family, school, and (local, state, and national) governments.
INDICATOR 1: The student will explain the purpose of rules and laws and why they are important to schools, communities, states, and nations.

BENCHMARK 4: The student identifies and examines the rights, privileges, and responsibilities in becoming an active civic participant.

• INDICATOR 2: The student will know that effective, informed citizenship is a duty of each citizen.

ENGAGE:

• The teacher will review with students what they learned about why we have rules and laws (rules and laws are in place to protect us. The Constitution is the law of the land in the U.S.).
  
• The teacher will introduce the words: rights and responsibilities.
  
• The teacher will pass out student sheet.

EXPLORE:

• The students will work with one person to brainstorm and complete the student sheet.
  
• When completed (about 10-15 min.), the students will regroup as a class and discuss their ideas about rules and responsibilities.
  
• Students may add ideas to their student sheets that they did not already have.

EXPLAIN:

• The teacher will inform students that all U.S. citizens have rights that cannot be infringed upon.
  
• The teacher will add to the list of student examples (freedom of religion, speech, etc.).
  
• The teacher will tell students that there are specific responsibilities that come with freedom (freedom of speech; use kind words, freedom of religion; respect other people’s beliefs).

ELABORATE:

• The students will write a brief summary describing what they learned about rights and responsibilities.
  
• “What rights do we have as U.S. citizens?”
  
• “What responsibilities come with having those rights?”

EVALUATE:

• The teacher will collect the student sheet for a grade.
  
• The teacher will take note of any misconceptions that arise during whole class or small group discussion.

Modifications: If students finish early, they can create a journal entry to Mrs. Latta describing what they have learned so far about being a good citizen.

ESL Modifications: The teacher will look up key words in the Spanish dictionary prior to the lesson.