March
Bully Prevention Resources
Justice and Fairness
(The information below has been taken and adapted
from http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/beverlywoodsES/Documents/Janjustice.pdf)
Pre-teach: Begin by greeting
the students and telling them that you will be discussing the traits justice and fairness with them today. Ask the
following questions and call on different students for answers. Below each question
are examples of the type of responses you are looking for. You may need to
rephrase students’ answers or guide them along.
(Ask)
What is justice?
1. Treating everyone fairly under established rules and laws. (You
may want to give an example, such as following school rules.)
(Ask)
What is fairness?
1.
Treating all people with honesty and respect.
2.
Giving everyone equal opportunities to succeed.
3.
Cooperating with one another.
4.
Celebrating the uniqueness and value of everyone.
5.
Making sure others are not treated badly.
(Ask)
Why are justice and fairness important?
1.
To make sure that everyone has the chance to succeed.
2.
To make our home, school, community and world a better place for all people.
(Ask)
Who are some people that have fought for justice
and fairness for others?
1.
Martin Luther King Jr.
2.
Rosa Parks
3.
Abraham Lincoln
4.
Susan B. Anthony
(Ask)
What are ways we can show justice and fairness at
our school?
1.
Treat all people equally - the same.
2.
Cooperate with one another.
3.
Be respectful and listen to what others have to say.
4.
Be willing to do what is best for everyone.
5.
Play by the rules at all times; be a good sport.
6.
Include others in games and activities. Don’t leave people out.
7.
Understand that being fair doesn’t always mean the same treatment in every
circumstance. For example, you may have an earlier bedtime that you older
brother, or your younger sister may not have as many household chores as you.
8.
Stand-up for someone you see being treated unfairly – you can make a
difference!
Closing comment: Life
may not always be fair to you, but you can always be fair in life!
Class
activities and book suggestions per grade level listed below!
Justice
and Fairness Activities
Fair Treatment (Suggested
for all grades)
Materials: Sack of candy
Bring
a sack of candy containing 5 less than the total number of students in the
class. Pass the sack around and tell everyone they can take one. When the
students discover the unfair situation and that there is not enough candy for
everyone, discuss the following questions:
1.
How did those students that did not get the candy feel? How about those that
did?
2.
What would be the fair solution to the problem?
3.
Can you think of another situation when people might feel left out or rejected?
You Be The Judge (Suggested
for grades 3 -6)
Materials: Slips of paper
Before
your lesson, write down on slips of paper different “crimes” such as, cheating
on a test, disobeying a teacher, fighting in the hallway, and stealing a cookie
from the cafeteria. Have the students role play a scene where the “criminal”
picks a crime from the hat and the “jury” (the class) decides his sentence. How
harsh should the punishment for each crime be? Should the punishment for some
crimes be worse than others? Discuss the justice and fairness of the
punishments decided by the jury. (The Best of
Character, by Duane Hodgin)
The Fair Eggs-periment (Suggested
for all grades)
Materials: Clear drinking
glass filled with one cup of water, fresh egg, ¼ cup salt, a permanent marker,
and tablespoon.
Carefully
place the egg in the glass of water. Tell the students that the egg (You may want to give it a name like “Eddie”) “represents someone who is not being treated fairly. Sinking to
the bottom represents how someone who is left out or mistreated would feel - sad, depressed, defeated,
unappreciated, and unloved. Remove the egg from
the water and set it aside. One tablespoon at a time,
add salt to the water. As you stir in each spoonful, explain that the salt represents
different ways to show fairness towards others. For example: following the
rules when playing
a game, taking turns and sharing, treating others with honesty and respect, and
taking action to help someone
being treated unfairly. After you have added all of the salt, put the egg back
in the water. (If you want, you can put a smiley face on the egg with the
permanent marker) and it will now float. Explain that now “Eddie” is being
supported with kindness and “held up” by the fairness and acceptance of others.
(10-Minute Life Lessons, by
Jaime
Miller)
Sing About Justice and Fairness (Suggested
for grades K-2)
Materials: None
(Sing
to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine”)
Justice
and Fairness, Justice and Fairness,
Treat
others kindly, respect the rules.
Stand
up for people who are mistreated,
Make
a difference in the world.
Fair Cents (Suggested for all
grades)
Materials: ten pennies, two
nickels, and one dime Stack the pennies on top of one another, stack the
nickels next to them and place the dime beside the nickels.
Begin
by discussing the fact that although each set of coins looks different, they all
have the same value. This is the same with people, we may look different on the
outside – short, tall, blonde, etc., but we are all of equal value and deserve
to be treated fairly. When you share, take turns, and treat others equally and
with respect, you are showing fairness.
Ponder This… (Suggested for
grades 4 -6)
Materials: None
Write
this quote on the board: “It is not fair to ask of others
what you are not willing to do yourself.” ~Eleanor
Roosevelt~
Discuss
with the class the meaning of this quote by a former first lady who dedicated
her life to improving the quality of people’s lives around the world. Have
students brainstorm situations they see as unfair and then come up with some
solutions together. If time permits, help the class write their own quote about
justice and fairness to post in the classroom. For example, “Always be fair and
square” ~Mrs. Johnson’s Class
The Fairness Jar (Suggested
for grades 2 -6)
Materials: Container and
strips of paper
Label
a container and place it in a location in the classroom where everyone can
reach it. Cut strips of paper and put them in the container. When a student
experiences an unfair situation, encourage the student to take out a slip of paper
and write a note about what happened and place it back in the jar. Throughout
the month, ask the classroom teacher to read the notes and talk about ways to
make things fairer. (Being Your Best, by Barbara
Lewis)
Book Suggestions for Justice and Fairness
Kindergarten:
It’s My Turn, David Bedford
Miss Spider’s Tea Party, David
Kirk
The Greedy Python, Richard
Buckley
First Grade:
It’s Not Fair, Carl Sommer
The Doorbell Rang, Pat
Hutchins
Jamaica Tag-Along, Juanita
Havill
Second Grade:
Everett Anderson’s Friend, Lucille
Clifton
Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, Judith Viorst
Rosa Parks: Fist Biography, Lola M.
Schaefer
Third Grade:
Picture Book of Anne Frank, David
Adler
The Sneetches, Dr. Seuss
Teammates, David Halberstam
Fourth Grade:
Fairness: The Story of Nelly Bly,
Spencer Johnson
Minty – The Story of Harriet Tubman, Alan Schroeder
Baseball Saved Us, Ken
Mochizuck
Fifth Grade:
Fair is Fair – World
Folktales of Justice, Sharon Creeden
Picture Book of Sojourner Truth, David
Adler
The Cow of No Color, Nina Jaffe
