Fairness

That's Not Fair!

Designed for grades 5-6
Often, students will say: "That's not fair!"
I created a lesson that helps address the idea of fairness.

The PowerPoint includes video clips and images that may upset some students. Use your best judgement. For example, if you have a student with cancer, the slides about illness may not be appropriate.
PowerPoint*
File Size: 813 kb
File Type: pptx
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*Adapted from Melanie Robinson's lesson on fairness
Schools for Asia
File Size: 29131 kb
File Type: asf
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Camp Quality
File Size: 34750 kb
File Type: asf
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Clean Water
File Size: 11796 kb
File Type: asf
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Download and save the video files to your computer in order to play them in the PowerPoint.

Accepting Consequences

I use this lesson with 2nd - 4th grade students to help them understand the connection between their behavior and the consequences they receive. I start by drawing this on the board. We talk about the idea of "fair" in that it's not fair that positive behaviors get negative consequences, the same way that it's not fair that negative behaviors get positive consequences. Then, I remind them that we learn most of what we need to know about positive behaviors in kindergarten, which is why I bring a story I read with kindergartners. We roleplay various negative behaviors that David exhibits in the book. I ask a student volunteers to be the teacher and react to my behaviors. We rehearse the phrase "Those are the rules" to remind students about what is fair. We end the lesson with students writing their own positive and negative behaviors and consequences.

Comprehension Check

This idea from Kindergarten Rocks is a wonderful way to check your students' understanding. When you ask comprehension questions after your lesson, students take turns swatting their answers. You can hang your chart paper on the wall or lay it out on the floor. If possible, laminate the paper so it can withstand more lessons.
I would use this activity to pre-test my students and to end a unit. If you're conducting many classroom lessons in a year, you'll need to change things up a bit. This is a perfect way to do so. 

Click here to purchase colorful fly swatters for your "game."
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