Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mrs. Allchin, and I'm going to be taking you through your Citizenship lesson today.

I'm going to be giving you all the information that you need to be successful, and I'll be pausing and telling you when you need to complete and check for understanding, or a larger task.

I hope you enjoy the lesson.

This lesson is called "Why Does Society Need Rules and Laws?" And it's taken from the unit of lessons, "Citizenship, What's It All About?" By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to describe what rules and laws are, where they come from, and why they are important.

Keywords for today's lesson are community, which is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

Society, which is people living together in an ordered community.

Rules, which are a set of guidelines that tell people what is and what is not allowed.

And laws, which are rules that are usually made by Parliament that are used to order the way in which a society behaves.

Our lesson outline for why does society need rules and laws is as follows.

First, we're going to have a look at what is the purpose of rules.

Then we're going to look at where did laws come from, and then we're going to consider why do we need rules and laws.

So, let's begin by looking at what is the purpose of rules.

Being a citizen of a country means a person has rights and responsibilities within that country.

Rights and responsibilities are made possible when people work together in a community or in society.

Having rules is a big part of this.

So, Andeep is saying, "Society is people living together in an ordered community." And Jun is saying, "Community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common." And rules exist in all areas of life.

They're within all communities.

For example, in schools, we have rules.

In our homes, in workplaces, and also in group hobbies, so like sports clubs, for example, we'll have special rules.

Community groups.

Rules are a set of guidelines that tell people what is and what is not allowed.

They might vary from place to place.

For example, rules that you have at home might be different to rules that you have at school.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these statements is true? A, rules tell people what is and is not allowed.

B, rules are the same wherever you go.

And C, rules are a set of guidelines.

Let's see how you got on.

So, rules tell people what is and is not allowed, is correct.

Rules are the same wherever you go is incorrect, 'cause remember, rules in one place might be different to rules in another place, and rules are a set of guidelines, is also true.

Rules are there to protect us, to keep the peace, and make sure everyone is treated fairly.

When rules are not followed, this can lead to unfair treatment, unrest, and people's safety being put at risk.

People who break rules may face consequences from their community.

So if you break a rule at home, there could be consequences.

If you break a rule at school, there could be consequences.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which one of these statements are true? Is it A, rules are there to keep the peace.

B, rules are made to protect us and keep us safe.

C, rules are there so people feel like they are important.

And D, rules are made to make sure everyone is treated fairly.

So, A is true, so is B.

C is not true, and D is true.

So, rules aren't there to make people feel like they're important, they're there to help us to keep the peace, to keep us safe, and make sure that everyone is treated fairly.

For Task A, I'd like you to write four rules for either home, school, clubs, or wider society.

And when you've chosen which one you are going to look at, I want you to consider the consequences if those rules did not exist.

So let's have a look at what that might look like as an example.

So, you might decide that you wanna look at school rules, and you might look at one of the rules, which might be mobile phones away in class.

And then the reason, pupils will be distracted, and they cannot learn if mobile phones are out.

So that's what you are going to be doing.

So you're choosing either school rules, club rules, home rules, or wider society rules.

And then for each of those four rules, I want you to consider the consequences.

Let's have a look.

So, you might have chosen school rules and you might have picked, mobile phones away in class, distracted, cannot learn, no running in the corridors 'cause people could fall over.

People could get hurt or pushed, it could be dangerous.

Respecting school property because if it gets damaged, it can be expensive to repair.

And no chewing gum 'cause this can get stuck to tables and floors, and it's dirty and disgusting and makes everything not look very nice at all.

So that might have been what you've chosen school rules.

Or you might have looked at sports clubs.

So it could have been to follow the instructions from a referee, so players know what they can and can't do, and they're safe.

It could be each team wearing a matching kit, so you know who's on each team.

It could be safe-tackling only so that there's not danger to other players, so that they're not unsafe.

To play in the boundaries of the pitch, so that there's order and people know where they are playing.

You might have picked home rules.

So, asking for borrowing or things could get lost or damaged, there could be arguments.

Putting rubbish in the bin, or things could become dirty or unhygienic.

To share household jobs so it's not unfair.

And so nothing, you know, doesn't get done 'cause that would be awful if nothing got done.

And then the house would get really messy, people would be cross.

Or to be home by an agreed time, 'cause if not, this can cause a worry or it could be dangerous.

So we've had a look at what is the purpose of rules.

Now we're going to have a look at laws, and we're going to have a look at where did laws come from.

So laws are alSo, rules, but they're made by Parliament that are used to order the way in which a society behaves.

Laws are rules that everyone has to follow, and that's a real key difference between laws and rules.

And Jun is telling us that "Parliament is the body that makes laws in the UK.

It is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch, which is the Queen or King at the time.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these is the correct definition of laws? Laws are rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way society behaves.

Laws are rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a single community behaves.

Laws are suggestions, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which communities behave.

So, A is correct.

Laws are rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way society behaves.

So, laws have existed in communities and wider society for centuries.

So, for hundreds and hundreds of years.

In the past, most laws were not written down and would be passed from person to person, and by word of mouth.

Only laws relating to very serious offences, like murder were written down by the king and his advisors.

And historically, in the UK, the Monarch had total power and could not be held accountable for their actions.

But this changed in 1215, when the barons and landowners challenged King John's power, who was the king at the time.

And they forced King John to sign a document, a really famous document known as Magna Carta.

So have a check for understanding.

Complete these sentences.

Before 1215, the Monarch had total something, and was not held accountable for their actions.

Before 1215, most rules and laws were only passed on by something.

Let's see if you could work out what the missing words were from these sentences.

So, before 1215, the Monarch had total power and was not held accountable for their actions.

Before 1215, most rules and laws were only passed on by word of mouth.

Magna Carta was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and their government were not above the law, and that's why it's so important.

Magna Carta is Latin for Great Charter.

Its purpose was to hold everyone, including the Monarch, accountable for their actions and to give the barons and landowners more say.

Some of the laws we now have were solidified in Magna Carta and are still valid today.

For example, the right to a trial by jury.

Magna Carta is important because it aimed to create equality and fairness, so that nobody was above the law.

So let's have a check for understanding.

Which statements are true? A, equality, and fairness were the main names of Magna Carta.

B, Magna Carta made everyone accountable for their actions.

C, Magna Carta was written down so that every citizen could read it for themselves.

So let's have a look at which statements are true.

A, true, equality and fairness were the main aims of Magna Carta 'cause it meant that everyone was the same in front of the laws.

Everyone had to follow the law equally.

B, Magna Carta made everyone accountable for their actions.

Also true, 'cause ultimately, now no one was above the law, and C, Magna Carta was written down so that every citizen could read it for themselves.

That isn't true, 'cause not all citizens could read either.

Magna Carta was written down to formalise the law and make it apply to all.

Only around 250 copies were made.

The majority of citizens at this time would not have been educated enough to be able to read it.

For Task B, I would like you to match the word or phrase with its correct definition.

So we've got laws, word of mouth, Parliament, trial by jury, Monarch, and Magna Carta.

So that's the word or phrase.

And then for our definitions, we've got the main group responsible for making laws.

A right given by the Great Charter that still exists today.

A set of rules usually made by Parliament that society must follow.

How most laws were passed on before they were written down.

First documents to put into writing that the king and his government were not above the law, and used to have total power, was unaccountable for actions.

So pause while you have a go at matching them.

So laws were a set of rules that usually made by Parliament that society must follow.

Word of mouth, how most laws were passed on before they were written down, so historically.

Trial by jury, a right given by the Great Charter that still exists today.

Parliament, the main group responsible for making laws.

Monarch, used to have total power, was unaccountable for actions.

And then Magna Carta, the first document to put into writing that the king and his government were not above the law.

We're now going to move on to the last part of the lesson.

We're going to consider why do we need rules and laws.

Rules are created and enforced by individuals, communities, and groups.

They may be different for different people.

For example, this could be to do with age.

A 5-year-old may not be allowed to stay up as late as a 16-year-old, or to go out and about by themselves, for example.

So, rules change.

Rules may be different in different places.

For instance, home rules may not be the same as school rules.

So, for example, you might be allowed to chew chewing gum at home, but you're not allowed to do this in the classroom.

And different countries also have different rules and laws as well.

Laws are created by Parliament and enforced by the police.

They apply to everyone, all the time.

They are the same across the UK.

For example, the law is the same whether you live in Leeds or London.

Parliament is the part of the Government that debates and makes laws.

It is made up of the House of Commons, the House Of Laws, and the Monarch.

Rules and laws exist for the same reasons.

They protect us, keep the peace, and make sure that everyone is treated fairly.

When rules and laws are broken, it impacts citizens, communities, and society in lots of different ways, and it impacts us as a whole.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of these might be reasons why rules vary for different people? Is it A, age, B, name, or C, medical or additional needs? So age, yeah, what a young child is allowed to do might not be the same as what a teenager is allowed to do.

Name, no, that should not be a reason why rules vary.

Medical or additional needs could be a change.

That could be a reason why rules might need to vary.

Some clubs, for example, are only for people with additional needs or disabilities.

A person's home chores might also be different depending on their age.

What you might ask a 6-year-old to do might be different to what you ask a 14-year-old to do at home, for example.

So let's have a look at some examples of laws.

So, the Food Safety Act 1990 and Natasha's Law 2021, they ensure that food is labelled, advertised, and presented in a way that is not false or misleading.

They provide a full ingredients list with allergen labelling on all pre-packed foods.

And the protection that's offered by this law is that people get what they expected and they've paid for.

It means that dietary needs are protected, such as halal, vegetarian, or vegan dietary requirements.

Allergies that could be life-threatening are not, are labelled correctly.

So it protects people who would suffer from allergies, and it ensures that companies act more responsibly.

The Noise Act 1996 means that noise between the hours of 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM must be kept low.

And the protection offered by this law is it protects people's right to sleep, which if interrupted, could affect their work or study.

It helps protect people's physical and mental health.

It protects enjoyment and peace in people's own homes, and it applies to all homes, businesses, and retail.

So this includes entertainment venues, which need a special licence so that they are allowed to potentially be noisy.

It could be beyond those times.

The Motor Vehicles Regulations 2006 and 2017 mean that children under 12 and-or under 135 centimetres tall must use an EU-approved car seat when travelling in a private vehicle.

And that backless booster seats are no longer approved for children under 22 kilogrammes or under 125 centimetres.

And the protection that this law offers is that children are better protected when travelling, less likely to be injured in a crash, the EU-approved car seats meet high safety standards, meaning that people know they are buying safer seats, and that driver's face fines or court if children are not in appropriate car seats, so more likely to follow the law.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which statements are true? A, laws apply to everyone equally.

B, the police enforce the law, they do not make it.

C, Natasha's Law was passed in 2021, and D, Parliament makes the law.

So, A, laws apply to everyone equally, is true.

The police enforce the law, they do not make it, is also true.

Natasha's Law was passed in 2021 is true, and Parliament makes the law, also true.

So, all of those four statements are true.

Hopefully, you've got those correct.

There may be consequences when breaking a rule.

The seriousness of the consequence may vary.

So, for example, a parent may stop their child going out with friends because they kept coming home late.

So they kept on breaking that rule, and, therefore, that was the consequence.

A player in a team game may be sent off the sports field because they made an unsafe tackle.

So the referee might decide they've broken rule, and, therefore, the consequence is that they have to leave the game.

And a pupil may be asked to leave the classroom because they were disrespectful to other people.

So again, they've broken rule around behaviour, and the consequence might be that they've been asked to leave the classroom.

It's a criminal offence to break laws.

If someone is found guilty of a crime, they will face legal consequences.

These consequences are decided by a judge or magistrate in court.

They must follow sentencing guidelines and stay within the maximum penalties set by Parliament.

For example, a person may be given a community service order for persistent graffiti.

A person may be banned from driving because they drove a vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol, or a person may be in prison for being violent towards others.

A person may also face consequences from their wider community if they break a law.

For example, a doctor could actually lose their licence to practise medicine if they were found guilty of committing a crime.

Or a delivery driver may lose their job if they were to receive a criminal conviction for driving offences, 'cause driving is a key part of their job.

If we did not have rules and laws, people could do what they want without consequence.

There would be no justice.

Therefore, for those people that have been harmed by the actions of others, people could feel unsafe as the police could not stop crime from being committed.

And this could lead us to living in an unstable society.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false.

A judge or magistrate has the power to give out any consequence they want.

Is that true? Is that false? And can you tell me why? It's false, and why? A judge or magistrate can give consequences from a list of agreed ones that have been set by law.

For Task C, what I want you to do is have a look at what Izzy and Laura think about a certain statement.

So let's have a look.

Izzy and Laura have been discussing the following.

A world without laws and rules is better than a world with laws and rules.

They have different opinions about this.

What I would like you to do is to decide on at least two reasons why you agree with either Izzy or Laura.

So let's have a look at what they think in more detail.

So, Laura is saying, "If there were no rules or laws, I would get to do what I want whenever I want.

I would have complete freedom.

I don't want to be told what to do." So that's what Laura thinks.

Whereas Izzy is saying, "You need rules and laws for safety.

Without them, people could steal, hurt others, and be treated unfairly.

Nobody could stop them.

People need to trust in each other, having rules and laws helps with this." So, pause while you complete Task C.

So when you were completing this task, and if you've chose to agree with Laura, your reasons to agree might have included rules and laws feel like an invasion of my privacy, and I should be able to do what I want to do.

I'm a good person, and I don't need rules to tell me how to behave.

Rules are different in different places, so they are not consistent, and it doesn't feel fair to make some people to do one thing and others do something else.

However, you might have chosen to agree with Izzy, and you might have included, most people are respectful, but there are others who aren't.

Rules and laws let people do the things they want, but without hurting other people.

Without the law, no one would know what the right thing is to do.

There wouldn't be punishments for those who have hurt others, and there wouldn't be justice for victims of crime.

For Part Two of Task C, I want you to imagine that you have been stranded on a desert island.

You are with nine of your classmates.

You are the only inhabitants of the island.

You have to find a way to live and survive with each other.

Decide upon a list of 10 rules that you would put in place to help you all to survive.

You must include at least two rules for justice, two rules for protection, and two rules to keep the peace.

Pause while you have a go at Part Two of Task C.

So your answers could have included anything.

They might have included, everyone gets equal food.

All items belong to the island.

All property and items at camp will be respected and looked after.

Everybody has a vote for who will be the leader.

Everyone has responsibilities in camps, such as washing up.

If a person breaks the rules, they have to spend time outside camp.

If a person breaks the rules, they have to make it up to the person they harmed.

So, in summary of why does society need rules and laws, rules are guidelines which tell people what is and isn't allowed.

If rules are broken, the consequences may be decided by the community, which enforces the rules.

Laws are written by Parliament and enforced by the police.

Everyone must follow the law.

If someone is found guilty of breaking the law, consequences are decided by judges or magistrates in court.

They must follow sentencing guidelines and stay within the maximum penalties set by Parliament.

Rules and laws are there to protect us, keep the peace, and make sure everyone is treated fairly.

Magna Carta was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law.

That brings us to the end of the lesson.

Well done for working hard, and I hope that you'll come back for Citizenship lessons in the future.