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4 to 8 (middle school)
U.S. constitution, civics, law
approximately 2 - 4 weeks
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In the course of their daily lives, students have to abide by countless rules established by the adult world. In this activity, students explore the nature of rules and see how they help in the formation and operation of organizations. Working in small groups, students create their own charter for a new club.
Begin by having your students read the articles "Peaceful Surrender," "The Stamp Act," and "The Revolution."
Lead a class discussion. You may wish to discuss questions such as:
- Where is your state capitol? How was this city selected? Is it the biggest city in your state? The place with the most businesses? The city with the most transportation resources (train station, airport, etc.)?
- What is a citizen? What are some benefits of being a citizen in your town or city? Are there any disadvantages?
- Are there any people in your community who are not citizens? Who, if anyone, represents their interests? Is this fair? Can these people become citizens if they want? If so, what does the procedure involve?
- Divide the class into random groups of about four or five kids. For this activity, close friends should be placed in different groups.
- Distribute the Worksheet for this activity to each group. Explain that the goal of this activity is for the group to find some interest they all share and develop a club around it. Encourage the groups not to settle on their first idea but to think of at least five possibilities. The Worksheet offers some suggestions for possible clubs.
- Each group of students should meet to determine their mission and common goals, a name for their club, and a logo. Then each group writes a charter which specifies their goals, decision-making procedures, meeting times, and so on. Upon completion, each group member signs the charter. To help your students write their charters, the Worksheet provides links to a number of Web sites that contain examples, ranging from the U.S. Constitution to policy documents from national organizations.
- OPTIONAL: Each week students from each of the clubs can make a short announcement of their clubs' recent activities.
You Make the Rules
In this activity, you helped form a new club. In doing so, you explored the nature of organizations and the development of their rules. Working with other students, you also created a charter for your club.
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Early New York