Explanation for Teacher: Societies, organizations, and groups establish rules, which identify and confirm accepted patterns of conduct and actions. These rules reflect agreement as to what constitutes equitable or impartial treatment of all members. Remember rules apply to everyone including people in positions of authority.

Sample Student Activity: Have students identify a problem involving the use of playground equipment during recess time. Have them develop a list of rules to ensure that everyone has a turn using the playground equipment.

Sample Student Activity: For younger students take this opportunity to discuss the importance of rules in the classroom. To further demonstrate this concept, play a game in the classroom that everyone knows such as "7-UP", but eliminate all the rules. In a short period of time, when the game becomes chaotic the students will become annoyed. Discuss the importance of fairness and justice. A great book to use with K-2 students is "Fair Bears Learns about Justice". This is Foundation of Democracy series published by the Center for Civic Education.

Explanation for Teacher: The principles of American government (democracy) provide common ground for Americans to work together. These principles at this level are justice/fairness, authority/power, responsibility, and privacy. For young people, opportunities to talk about these principles may occur when they read or listen to stories, sing songs, and talk about symbols of American democracy.

Sample Student Activity: Choose a story about how one of our American symbols became so important to us. An example could be a story about the Liberty Bell or the Statue of Liberty. For very young students you may need to explain what a symbol is. A wonderful big book to use is called Our Government by Rand McNally. Talk about why these symbols are still important to us today. (See lesson on Our Government, mdk12.org).

Sample Student Actitivty: For Kindergarten through 2^nd grade students use the Foundations of Democracy series that stresses the principles of justice/fairness, authority, responsibility and privacy. The books are Fair Bears Learn about Justice, Jessica Fish Learns About Privacy, Orb and Effy Learn about Authority and The Zookeeper Learns about Responsibility. There is an upper elementary level (3-5) that supports the same concepts published by the Center for Civic Education in Calabasas, CA.

For authority/power, ask the students evaluate positions of leadership in their schools and determine what are the qualities of a good leader. Another scenario is to ask the students how can you use authority to make rules about skateboarding in a community. Do we really need authority?

Explanation for Teacher: As young people listen to or read stories about people, places, and events in the early history of the United States, they begin to learn about how our government was established and how it has changed. For young people, government can be described as the people and groups who make and enforce laws. Students can also look at who governs their own community. They may find books about the founding fathers and the Liberty Bell interesting and appropriate at their grade level.

Sample Student Activity: Pass out copies of the "Pledge of Allegiance" and discuss the context of the poem and the purpose at the time it was written. Have the students brainstorm if and why it is still appropriate. Another great book to use at the same time is "The Flag That We Love", by Ryan, Pam Munoz.

Sample Student Activity: Read the book, "The Chester Town Tea Party", by Seabrooke. Briefly explain how the colonists in Chestertown, Maryland had a right to protest against an unfair rule. Talk about why it is important to protect our rights to protest and protect our freedom of speech. A book about Rosa Parks would also be a good example to use demonstrating how people still protest against unfair rules.

Explanation for Teacher: Rights are freedoms granted to American citizens allowing them to make their own choices. For example, Americans have the right to an education, to express themselves, and to vote for leaders. Responsibilities are duties that citizens have to do or not do certain things. Respect the rules that we live by maintains peace and protects the "common good" of the community. Often there is a conflict between what individual rights are and respecting the rules for the common good of the community.

Student Sample Scenario: A great picture book for demonstrating this contrast between individuals rights and the respect for the rules for the common good of the community is The Big Orange Spot, by Manus Pinkwater. This book demonstrates what happens when one individual decides to be different and upset the normalcy of the community by painting his house to reflect his creativity. The students can think of possible ways to settle this conflict peacefully.

Student Sample Scenario: Another excellent book is Mrs. Moscowitz’s Last Stand, by Arthur A. Levine. A community Ginko tree is being threatened by a city order to cut it down. The tree is very important to Mrs. Moscowitz and her neighbors. When their efforts to stop the tree from being destroyed fail, she resorts to breaking the law by chaining herself to the tree. Explain social responsibility and civil disobedience with the students. Discuss times when abiding by rules/laws can be a conflict in their lives.

Student Sample Scenario: Discuss some the rights of a student in a school setting and then discuss how each of these rights is balanced by certain responsibilities. The right to be safe means everyone needs to follow laws/rules. Let students generate a list of rights and responsibilities, stressing the cost and benefits approach.

Explanation for Teacher: Individuals and groups bring about civic improvement by becoming informed about political issues, discussing issues, contacting public officials, joining interest groups and political parties, and voting. By doing these things, people become active participants in the political process.

Sample Student Activity: Brainstorm ways to improve the appearance of the school building and grounds. Guide the students to select an appropriate project. Talk about how to carry out the project; decide who would have to be involved and vote on decisions necessary for carrying out the project. Discuss how this "action plan process" conducted in a school setting would be similar to that used in a community or town.

Sample Student Activity: Consider using the "Best Practices in Maryland Student Service" published by the Maryland Student Service Alliance at the Maryland State Department of Education. Another excellent book to read about community and individual participation is "Miss Rumphis". Have the students think of members of their own school or community who have contribution and write a class book.