# Lesson 189: Our rights and responsibilities

🟡 SOCIAL STUDIES (40 Lessons) • 🟣 D. Responsibility and Citizenship

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## Objective

I can tell some simple rights I have (like to feel safe and to learn) and matching responsibilities (like following rules and caring for others).

## Materials

- Plain paper and crayons or colored pencils
- Notebook page for a small rights-and-responsibilities chart
- Optional: classroom rules poster or picture of a class meeting

## Mini-lesson — Rights and responsibilities

A right is something that you are allowed to have or do. A right keeps you safe and helps you grow.

A responsibility is something you need to do to help your rights and other people's rights work well.

Rights at home and at school (simple)

- The right to feel safe.
- The right to be treated kindly.
- The right to learn and ask questions.
- The right to use materials that everyone shares.

Matching responsibilities

- If I have a right to feel safe, I have the responsibility to keep my hands and words gentle.
- If I have a right to learn, I have the responsibility to listen and try my best.
- If I have a right to use materials, I have the responsibility to take care of them and put them back.

Rights and responsibilities go together

- Rights help people feel safe and valued.
- Responsibilities help the whole group work well.
- We think, "What is my right here?" and also, "What is my job here?"

In this lesson, we use simple, everyday rights and responsibilities at home and school. We do not talk about laws or big problems.

Picture strip: Rights and responsibilities

## Guided Practice — Rights and responsibilities chart

You will make a chart that shows a simple right and a matching responsibility.

1. Draw a big rectangle on your page and split it into two columns. At the top of the left column write or trace "My right". At the top of the right column write or trace "My responsibility".
2. With an adult, think of three rights you have at home or school. Keep them simple, like "to feel safe" or "to learn".
3. In the left column, write or trace one right in each row.
4. In the right column, write or trace one matching responsibility. For example, next to "to feel safe" you might write "keep hands gentle".
5. Draw a small picture next to one of your pairs to show your right and responsibility together.
6. Under the chart, write or trace this sentence: "Rights and responsibilities go together."
7. Read your chart aloud to an adult. Ask, "What is one right and responsibility you see for me?"

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice — Match the right and responsibility

Talk about rights and responsibilities in short stories. Keep it gentle and simple.

1. With an adult, think of three short stories, such as "In class, everyone is trying to listen" or "You are using the classroom markers".
2. For each story, first name the right. For example, "We have the right to learn" or "We have the right to use markers".
3. Next, name a matching responsibility, such as "listen with quiet bodies" or "put the caps back on the markers".
4. Say the whole idea in one sentence, like "I have the right to learn and the responsibility to listen."
5. At the end, tell an adult one right and responsibility pair you want to remember today.

## Quick Check — Our rights and responsibilities

Answer each question about rights and responsibilities. These questions check simple ideas only.

1) What is a right?

A rule you make for other people only. Something you are allowed to have or do, like feeling safe or learning. A toy that belongs to someone else.
A right is something you are allowed to have or do.

2) What is a responsibility?

Something you never have to do. A way to get more than everyone else. Something you need to do to help yourself and others.
Responsibilities are jobs we do to help rights work well.

3) Which is a simple right at school?

The right to learn in a safe classroom. The right to break the rules. The right to take all the toys home.
Children have the right to learn in a safe place.

4) Which responsibility matches the right to learn?

Shouting over the teacher. Listening and trying your best during lessons. Talking loudly while others work.
Listening and trying help the right to learn.

5) You have a right to feel safe. What is a matching responsibility?

Pushing people when you are angry. Using mean words on purpose. Keeping your hands gentle and using kind words.
Gentle hands and kind words help everyone feel safe.

6) You have the right to use classroom materials. What should you do?

Take care of them and put them back when you are done. Break them and leave them on the floor. Hide them so no one else can use them.
Caring for materials is a responsibility.

7) Which sentence shows that rights and responsibilities go together?

"I have rights but no responsibilities." "I have the right to learn and the responsibility to listen." "Only other people have rights."
We remember our jobs as well as our rights.

8) Why is it important for everyone to follow responsibilities?

It helps the group stay safe, calm, and ready to learn. It makes the class noisy and wild. It lets one person get everything they want.
Responsibilities help the whole group.

9) Which choice is a good way to talk about rights and responsibilities?

"Only my rights matter." "I do not have to think about anyone else." "We all have rights, and we all have responsibilities."
Everyone has rights and responsibilities.

10) Which sentence shows you understand this lesson?

"Rules are only for other people." "My rights come with jobs I can do to help." "I never have to follow rules."
Rights and responsibilities belong together.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can say in simple words what a right is. Student can say in simple words what a responsibility is. Student can give at least one right and a matching responsibility. Student can explain how following responsibilities helps everyone. Student shows a basic understanding that rights and responsibilities go together at home and at school.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can talk about my rights and responsibilities. 🙂 I know some ideas about rights and responsibilities, but I want more practice. 😅 Rights and responsibilities still feel a bit tricky to me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Saying one right and matching responsibility Following class rules to help everyone learn Keeping my hands gentle so others feel safe
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