Character Education: Justice

Ideas for teaching about Justice.
You can also explain that to be just means to be fair and to share with others.

When discussing justice in your classes, you can make cards that say "justice" on one side and "not justice" (or the word justice crossed out, like "justice") on the other side. Then give examples and have the children hold up the side that says "justice" if they think the example shows justice or the side that says "not justice" if they think the example does not show justice. You can make the cards out of index cards or card stock. This helps keeps the students engaged in the discussion and moves them towards being more active participants rather than just passively listening.

I used the following examples for our discussion  (I have put a J in front of the examples that show justice):                   

1. 
   
   (J) Sharing crayons with others.
2. 
   
   (J) Following the rules when playing a game.
3. 
   
   Taking away someone's toy without asking to use it.
4. 
   
   (J) Making sure everyone gets a slice of cake.
5. 
   
   Cutting in front of others in line without permission.
6. 
   
   (J) Taking equal turns on the swing.
7. 
   
   (J) Finding a game everyone can enjoy.
8. 
   
   Taking someone's candy if they were mean to you.

 (Note: you may want to provide less examples if the children are getting antsy)

You can then give the students a chance to raise their hand and offer their own examples and have the rest of the children hold up their cards to say if that child's example shows "justice" or "not justice." When I did this in our class, the children seemed to enjoy giving their own examples. It also encourages children to listen to each other's examples because they know they will be having to raise their card after hearing it.

This is an example of the two sides of the cards:

I also came across a story online called "Fran the Fair Frog" which you can download for free as a pdf file. You can then use the Frog Craft heart shape theme as an arts and crafts project. It makes a really cute frog out of heart shaped parts. I then typed up some tips on how to be fair and taped it to the back of the frog that each child made. You can find the story "Fran the Fair Frog" and also the heart shaped frog craft by going to http://www.first-school.ws/THEME/animals/amphibians.htm

This is how the end product will look (I glued the tips of how to be fair on the back):

Now it's your turn...I would like to hear from you :).

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