Citizen Me!

ALLthe

LAYERSto

YOURCITIZENSHIP

Part Two

Rights

Sometimes

rights……are the flip side of

responsibilities.

Responsibilities

So if the handbook

says you can’t do

something……it is silently giving

you the right to do

something else!

No wallets

with chains!

You have the right to

bring a regular wallet.

So school handbooks are

usually the opposite of

the U.S. Constitution

because they list

responsibilities instead

of rights.

Try out some

examples of how

responsibilities can

silently tell you what

your rights are!

“Do not throw food in the lunch room” is silently saying you have the right to:

Eat in the lunch room!

Attend athletic activities!

“Students must be seated during athletic activities” is silently saying you have the right to:

Wear appropriate T-shirts!

“No T-shirts with inappropriate slogans” is silently saying you have the right to:

RIGHTS

Record it here!

Attend sports, eat in

lunchroom

Right to free education; Equal rights for men and

womenRight to use sidewalks and

parks School Handboo

k

SCHOOL

CITY

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Freedom of speech, right to vote, right to a jury trial

What rights do you have at your school?

The adults in

charge at home

give you rights

that only apply at

home.

For example, you

probably have the

right to eat the

food they buy, and

you might have the

right to watch TV

and play video

games.

Adults in ChargeHOME

Record it here!

TV, video games, eat

food

Right to free education; Equal rights for men and

womenRight to use sidewalks and

parksAttend sports, eat in

lunchroom

RIGHTS

Adults in Charge

HOME

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Freedom of speech, right to vote, right to a jury trial

Remember: These are all just examples!

RIGHTS

Check Your Work:

TV, video games, eat

food

Right to free education; Equal rights for men and

womenRight to use sidewalks and

parksAttend sports, eat in

lunchroom

STAT

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CITY

HOME

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Freedom of speech, right to vote, right to a jury trial

CITIZENSH

IP PYRAM

IDSIDE 4:

RESPONSIBILITIES!

A. Things adults have to do.

C. Duties to other people, the government, or to society.

B. Unpleasant activities nobody wants to do.

D. Chores you do after school.

Responsibilities are…

HOMEFor example, you

might have to

sweep the floor, get

groceries… or even

wash the dog!

The adults in

charge at home

give you duties you

are only

responsible for at home.

Record it here!

Sweep floor, wash dishes

& dog

RESPONSIBILITIES

HOME

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CITY

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What responsibilities do you have at home?

SCHOOLWell! I don’t have any

trouble figuring out

what my

responsibilities at

school are! They’re all

listed right in the

school handbook!

SCHOOLAt school, you are responsible for following the rules.You already learned that

school rules usually tell you what NOT to do.

Sweep floor, wash dishes

& dog

Behave in class No gum, hats,

weapons

RESPONSIBILITIES

Record it here!

SCHOOL

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What responsibilities do you have at your school?

City charters often

contain rules, kind of

like a school handbook.

CITY

Laws that apply only

within a city are

called ordinances.

If a city ordinance tells

you not to do

something...…then you know you

have a responsibility

not to do that thing.

CITY

NO person may have a

dog that barks at

night

Even if the ordinance just

says what the punishment

is……you can still figure out

you have a responsibility

not to do that thing.

CITY

There is a $50 fine for flying a kite in the park.

Record it here!

RESPONSIBILITIES

Sweep floor, wash dishes

& dog

Behave in class

No gum, hats,

weapons

No barking dogs,No kites in park

CITY

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What responsibilities do you have in your town?

Paying TAXES is one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll find in a state constitution…

For example, your state might have taxes on

property you own, on income you earn, and

even on the stuff you buy at the store!

State ConstitutionSTATE

State Constituti

on

Behave in class No gum, hats,

weapons

No barking dogs,No kites in park

Property tax, income tax,

sales tax

Sweep floor, wash dishes

& dog

Record it here!

RESPONSIBILITIES

STATE

CITY

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What do you think your state uses your taxes for?

NATIONThe Constitution does not

have a list of responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.

United States Constitution

The Constitution creates a government that can’t

work if people don’t participate!

NATIONCould you have a jury trial if everyone refused to do jury duty?

United States ConstitutionJury duty is a responsibility we have to others and to the government.

NATIONWhat would happen if NOBODY showed up to vote??

United States ConstitutionVoting is a responsibility we have to our society and the government.

?NATION

What good is voting if you have no idea what you’re voting for?

United States ConstitutionStaying informed is a responsibility we have to society.

NATIONSometimes rights and responsibilities clash!

United States ConstitutionWhat would happen if you yelled “Fire!” in a crowded theater?

Responsibility for public safety comes before the right to free speech!

RESPONSIBILITIES

Record it here!

Sweep floor, wash dishes

& dog

Jury duty; voting; staying informed;

don’t put people at risk

Behave in class

No gum, hats,

weapons

No barking dogs,No kites in park

Property tax, income tax,

sales tax

NATION

United States

Constitution

CITY

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Can you think of any other responsibilities you have to your country?

Jury duty; Voting; Staying informed; don’t put people at risk

Behave in class

No gum, hats, weapons

No barking dogs,No kites in park

Property tax, income tax,

sales tax

Sweep floor, wash dishes

& dog

Check Your Work:

STAT

E

CITY

HOME

SCHO

OL

NATIO

N

RESPONSIBILITIES

NICE JOB! Now, following your

teacher’s instructions, build

your Citizenship Pyramid!

ALL DONE!