Activity 1: (10 minutes) WHAT ARE RULES?

Introduce the lesson by reviewing the Pyramid of Happiness poster. Review the third level of the pyramid and perform that action (wrap arms around yourself in a hug). Remind students about the actions associated with each level of the pyramid. Make the connection of how rules and respect are a part of a feeling of belonging and connection. Have a discussion:

• What are rules?
• Why do we have rules?
• What are some rules that you know?

Rules are statements about behavior. Rules help us stay safe, take care of people and spaces, and help us show care and understanding for others.

Rules are everywhere. Even parents have to follow rules.

• What is a family rule?
• What kinds of rules do parents have to follow?
• What is a rule about riding on a bus?
• What is a rule about going to a movie?
• Are there rules about crayons?
• What are the rules about lunch or eating snacks?
• What are our rules about how we talk to each other in class?

Activity 2: (20 minutes) RULE/NOT A RULE

Our classroom rules help our classroom run smoothly, help us take care of our school, and help us take care of one another. Read David Goes to School, by David Shannon, or watch the read-aloud video by Animated Children’s Books. Have the children help you remember all the rules that David was reminded to follow in the story.

A few general school and classroom rules and some ideas that are NOT rules are listed on the Classroom Rules handout. There are extra spaces for you to add rules that are specific to your classroom. Separate the rules along the dotted lines, and fold each slip in half before placing them inside a box. Invite a child to remove one slip of paper from the box. Read what is written on the slip. If it is a rule, children should indicate by standing up, clapping, and saying “YES!” If it is NOT a rule, they should indicate by crossing their arms, shaking their heads, and saying, “NO!” Have the children return to a seated position between each rule that is drawn out of the box.

• What other rules can they think of that are important?
• If they were the teacher, what new rule would they implement?

Activity 3: (10 minutes) RULES SHOW RESPECT

Ask students ways that they show respect, or care, for others. List ideas on the board.

Watch this Sesame Street video about respect. Stop the video between each segment to talk about how each clip helps them understand what respect is.

Ask students if there are other ways they can think of to show respect.

Activity 4: (20 minutes) CLASSROOM RULES SHOW RESPECT

Rules help us get along, and they help us show respect.
Have a discussion:

• What is respect?
• What rules help us show respect for others?
• What rules help children show respect to their teacher?
• What rules help children show respect to their parents?
• What rules help children show respect for themselves?

Read We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, by Ryan T. Higgins, or watch the read-aloud video by Story Time at Awnie’s House. Talk about how the dinosaur learned to follow the rules and respect her classmates. Encourage the children to imagine other ways that a dinosaur (or a child) might be disrespectful in class. What was the classroom rule that Penelope the dinosaur did not follow?

Share one of the following behaviors with the children (you may want to tell a short story involving the behavior). Have the children help you find rules and tell you how it will help the children show respect and care to one another:

• Name calling
• Tattling
• Talking out of turn
• Bossiness
• Aggressive play
• Destructive play
• Not sharing
• Hitting or hurting

Activity 5: (10 minutes) PERSONAL RULES: RESPECTING OURSELVES

We often talk about doing what grownups tell us to do because that is a respectful thing to do, and most of the time it is. We often talk about sharing with others, because most of the time it is a good thing to do. Sometimes, the best way to show respect and caring for yourself and others is by saying, “No.” Read Saying No by Joy Berry, or watch the read-aloud video by Accelerated Reader ReadingBooks4U. After you have read the book, have a discussion about all the good reasons for saying no, and how respecting ourselves helps our well-being. Review the “No” rules, and talk about how to say “No” kindly, and like you mean it.

Our No Rules
You should say “No” when:

• Someone asks you to do something that you know you shouldn’t do.
• Someone invites you to do something you don’t want to do.
• Someone wants to do something for you, or give you something you don’t want.
• Someone wants you to agree with them when you don’t agree.
• Someone asks you to share something, and you just started your turn.
• Someone asks you to share something that is very special to you.

You should NOT say no when:

• You are asked to stop doing something that would hurt you or someone else.
• You are asked to stop doing something when things are being destroyed.
• You are asked to do something you are supposed to do.
• Saying “No” is a lie.

Strategies for saying “No”:

• Be calm. Be kind. Most of the time, a kind “no” will do.
• Use your “power” voice: Say it like you mean it. Use your “power” voice when someone doesn’t listen to a kind “no.”

Help the children practice saying “no” with their “power” voice, and using kind words to say “no.”