What are rules?
Guidelines that tell you what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do. are all around us.
We often have rules to follow at home, in school or in the community.
Rules help to keep us safe, make sure that everyone is treated fairly and make sure people's The privileges and freedoms that belong to everyone. are respected.
It is our responsibility to follow rules.
Watch - Explore rules, rights and responsibilities
Learn more about rules, rights and responsibilities in the community.
VOICEOVER: We’ve all heard of ‘rules’ - there are plenty we have to follow every day at home or school!
We also have laws that affect everyone in the whole country - laws are voted on and created in Parliament.
But why do we have rules and laws?
CHILD 1: We have rules and laws to keep us safe, protect us and guide us.
CHILD 2: To make our community a nicer, happier and safer place to live.
CHILD 3: So that everybody is treated fairly.
VOICEOVER: Rules and laws are there to keep us safe. Laws help our country run smoothly and also make sure people are treated fairly.
Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to be protected by it. It is our responsibility as citizens to follow rules and laws.Responsibilities are shared ‘duties’ that we should carry out as members of a community. For example, this could be respecting public property, such as in your local park or a town centre.
Can you name some other responsibilities that we have?
CHILD 2: We have a responsibility to keep our environment clean.
CHILD 3: Respecting other people’s property.
CHILD 4: Also, to show mutual respect to people.
CHILD 2: To listen to everybody.
CHILD 1: And respecting other people’s rights.
CHILD 2: And to not be abusive.
VOICEOVER: As well as responsibilities to carry out and rules to follow, we also have ‘rights’ – these are entitlements or freedoms we have that are protected by law, such as the right to be able to speak out about things that are important to us, or to feel safe.
Can you name some other rights we have in the UK?
CHILD 3: Like we have the right to privacy, the right to education.
CHILD 1: Freedom of speech, freedom to live.
CHILD 2: We have the right to vote.
CHILD 4: To live without fear.
CHILD 3: The right not to be discriminated.
CHILD 2: We have the right to have shelter, to eat and to work.
VOICEOVER: Our rights and responsibilities can change depending on different situations, especially as we get older, and so it is important that we make responsible choices. If we don't act responsibly, such as committing a crime, our rights might be affected. In this case, we could risk losing our right to freedom.
What do you think is the most important right or responsibility that we have?
What is the rule of law?
Rules that affect the whole country are called Laws are rules which affect the whole country. They are enforceable and punishable if broken. .
Laws are made in The group of people who work on behalf of citizens to make sure that the government are running the country properly. and can be changed by the A group of people who have the authority to govern a country..
The rule of law means that the law applies to everyone equally. Because of this, everyone is entitled to be protected by it.
This makes life as fair as possible for everyone.
What are rights?
Rights are the privileges and freedoms that belong to everyone.
The rights that people have in the UK include:
- The right to life
- The right to education
- The right to freedom
A person’s rights can change if they don’t act responsibly.
For example, their right to freedom could be taken away if they commit a particular crime.
By being responsible, we can protect our rights.
Did you know?
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an agreement that explains that adults and governments must make sure that children also have rights.
What are responsibilities?
We all have responsibilities, which can be different depending on whether we’re at home, school or out in the community.
Image caption, Obeying the law
The law protects people from harm and can keep us safe. Not following the law puts others at risk and make communities unsafe.
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Over time our responsibilities can change.
You may choose to take on additional responsibilities such as becoming a member of your student council, or voting inA process that allows the people to vote for who they want to represent them locally and nationally. when you are older.
It is important to try and make responsible choices.
Activities
Is it responsible behaviour or not?
We can all try to be responsible, whether that’s towards other people or to ourselves.
- Click on the image below to see a scenario sheet.
- Work through the different scenarios and decide whether the people are acting responsibly or not.
Design a poster
Imagine that a new playground has opened in your local park.
The playground needs a list of rules, rights and responsibilities for everyone who wants to play there.
Take a piece of paper and create a poster to display at the park.
Quiz
SATs preparation resources. activity
Get ready for the SATs papers with videos, activities, quizzes and games to refresh your knowledge and practise your skills.
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