Do I Have to Follow the Rules?

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Each of the statements shown at the beginning of the lesson are examples of rules.

• What are rules?

Tell your teacher or parent. Rules are things that tell us what we can and cannot do.

• What rules do you have to follow at home?

Tell your teacher or parent at least five rules that exist in your household.

Sometimes, it can seem like rules are just there to keep you from doing the things you want to do, but rules are very important! Tell your teacher or parent why you think it may be necessary to have rules.

Rules exist to keep us safe. For example, you could get seriously injured if you crossed the street before looking both ways. Rules also exist to keep us healthy. Many kids have a bedtime as part of their household rules. On average, kids need about 11 hours of sleep each night in order to stay awake and alert all day, without feeling grumpy or tired. Finally, rules help to keep things fair, and help us live peaceably with other people. For example, if there were no rules that told us to share our toys with our siblings and friends, we would always be fighting over silly things with people who are important to us.

Sometimes, rules can be different for different people.

• Can you think of a situation where you have to follow a rule, but someone else does not have to follow the same rule?

Tell your teacher or parent any situations that come to mind. You probably have a much earlier bedtime than your parents. This is because adults do not need as many hours of sleep as children, because adults' bodies have different needs. Rules might also be different in different settings. For example, the rules you have at home are probably different from the rules you have for school.

You will take a closer look at how rules can change in different settings in the Got It? section. Before moving on to that section, listen to the song in this video, I Can Follow the Rules Song | Music for Classroom Management. Listen and dance to the song as many times as you want:

• What rules are part of the song?
• Do you have to follow these rules?
• Can you think of two more rules you can add to the song?

Sing the two additional rules with your teacher or parent, take a rest, then move on to the Got It? section.