Laws and Values

None (Introductory Lesson)

 1. Given a variety of situations, the student will be able to recognize that laws impact upon every aspect of life.

2. Students will be able to identify specific values protected by various laws.

3. Students will be able to develop and support generalizations concerning "laws" and "values."

 Introductory Worksheet, "I"

 1-2 class periods

 (Cols. 1 & 2) The teacher asks students how many have done things since waking up this morning that are related to laws (perhaps a few raise their hands). Teacher states that we are going to list some of the things that most people do when they get up in the morning and go to school, and then consider whether some of those things are related to laws. Teacher then obtains several examples of morning activities, and lists them under Col 1. Then, in small groups, student s are asked to think of types of laws that may be related directly or indirectly to those activities.

(Col 3) Teacher then leads a brief discussion about the term "values," resulting in a general definition, such as "those things that are important to people. Then, using the examples of types of laws (Col 2), students are asked to infer a value protected by the laws in Col 2, and to write their answers in Col 3.

Toward the conclusion of the lesson, have students respond orally or in writing to the following regarding what they learned from the lesson:

• How much do laws affect our daily lives? Show how this lesson influenced your answer.

• Based on the lesson, what do we mean by "values."?

• How are laws and values interrelated? Give examples to support your answer.