Lesson video

Hello, I'm Mrs. Afshan.

I'm so glad you're here today.

We are going to be thinking about something really important that affects all of us, rules.

Today, we are going to learn about why we have rules and what they help us to do.

The lesson is called Rules to Live By from the unit Choices: Do We Need Rules to Live By? The outcome of today's lesson is, I can explain why we have rules.

Before we dive into our big question today, I would like to share some important words with you, which will help us understand how and why do we have rules.

The words are rules, philosophy, and choices.

Let's see what they mean together.

Rules are things we follow to help everyone stay safe and happy.

Philosophy is thinking about big questions, like what is right and wrong.

And finally, choices, choices are decisions we make about what to do.

Let's repeat the words one more time.

First, it'll be my turn, and then it'll be your turn.

The word is rules, rules.

The next word is philosophy, philosophy.

And finally, choices, choices.

Great.

Well done.

Our lesson today has two cycles.

First, we are going to look at what different rules are there.

Sophia explains what we mean by philosophy in religious education.

She says, "Philosophers ask big, important questions and try to answer them by thinking carefully.

You can use philosophy to share your ideas and understand other people's thoughts too." In this lesson today, we will talk about why we have rules and why they are important.

Let's get started.

What's happening in these images? What do you notice? Look carefully.

Good thinking.

I can see children taking turns in the first image.

The image in the middle is showing how you could be kind to each other by saying good words and shaking hands.

And finally, I can see children walking in a line.

Do you do the same when you're at school? And do you think it's fair to take turns? Well done.

Great thinking.

Sophia and Andeep are talking about rules.

They're questioning and thinking, "What is a rule? Are all rules the same?" Sophia replies, "A rule is something that tells us what we should do or shouldn't do.

At school, rules help keep us safe and happy, like taking turns, using kind words, or walking in a line." Did you think of the same when we looked at the images? Well done.

Time for a check.

What is a rule? Is it something we eat at lunchtime, or something that tells us what we should or shouldn't do, or is it something for measuring a line? What do you think? That's correct.

Rule, or rules, are something that tells us what we should or shouldn't do.

Well done.

Sophia and Andeep are thinking deeper about rules now, and they're thinking about, "Are rules the same everywhere?" "No," says Sophia.

"Rules can be different in different situations.

On the playground, we can run, play, and have fun, but we still need to be kind and take turns.

Inside school, it is a rule that we walk quietly and don't disturb others.

It would not be safe to run." I agree with Sophia.

Do you? Are there rules we follow outside of school too? The images below will help us think about them.

Are there any rules we follow outside of school? Let's explore.

Yes, rules are everywhere and not just in school.

People follow traffic rules, or traffic light rules, to know when it's safe to cross the road.

People follow the rule of walking on the pavement, so they don't get hurt by cars, like most of us do coming to school in the morning or walking and going to a shop with our family.

People follow the rule of not talking to strangers to keep themselves safe.

Time for a check.

People follow the same rules at school, at home, and on the road, true or false? What do you think? False, that's incorrect, because rules can be different in each place to help people stay safe and show respect.

Here, we have Priya.

Priya has a Hindu worldview.

Priya has learned that there are special rules at home and at the mandir.

The mandir is a special place of worship for Hindus.

A mandir is the place where Priya goes with her family to worship God and meet other Hindus.

Let's find out what Priya says, "At home, I wash my hands before eating to keep clean.

Before I go inside the mandir, I take off my shoes.

Everyone speaks very quietly.

And during the prayers, we sit and stand in a special way to show respect.

Following these rules feels different, but also really special." Time for another check.

Following the rules is a way to show respect or play games, or eat food.

What do you think? That's correct.

Following the rules is a way to show respect.

That's the correct answer.

Well done.

Time for our task.

Sophia says, "Rules are there to keep us safe." Sophia has made a statement about rules.

Can you tell Sophia three places where we might find rules? Are rules the same in every place? You can pause the video now and come back when you're ready to check your answers with me.

Let's check your answers.

Your answer may have included, "There are rules at school, like walking and being calm around the building.

On the road, people follow traffic light rules and walk on the pavement.

In a religious place, like a mandir, people follow rules, such as taking off their shoes.

Rules are different in different places, but the aim is to keep people safe." Well done if you included that in your answer.

Great work.

We now know about different rules in different places.

Let's go and find out why do we have these rules.

Let's join Sophia and Andeep again, who are talking about thinking, thinking like philosophers.

"The more I think about something like rules, the more questions I have," says Andeep.

"It is great to think hard and ask questions," replies Sophia.

"People who do this are called philosophers.

Philosophy is about thinking hard and asking questions that don't have simple answers." Here are some questions you might ask in philosophy.

What makes you you? Where do your thoughts come from? If animals could talk, what would they say? Can you think of any big and tricky questions? Great thinking.

Well done.

Time for another check.

What is philosophy? Is it thinking about big questions with no easy answer, or thinking about easy questions, or asking impossible questions? What do you think? That's correct.

Philosophy is thinking about big questions with no easy answer.

That's the correct answer.

Well done.

Andeep is thinking, "I can think of a philosophical question, why do we rules," he asks.

"That is a great question," says Sophia.

"We can use philosophy to help us solve it.

Let's imagine a world without rules.

Thinking about this will help us understand more about why we have rules." Let's join them and find out more.

What would happen if people did not stop at a crossing? If people did not stop at a red light, then they could get injured, and cars would not know what to do.

We need traffic rules, so everyone is safe and knows how to behave.

I'm sure you thought of the same idea.

Well done.

What would happen if everyone spoke when the teacher asked a question? "If everyone spoke when the teacher asked a question, then some people would not be hurt, and no one could learn properly.

We need school rules, so that everyone is respected and can learn." I totally agree with Sophia.

Do you? Let's see if you got that.

Why are rules important? Is it that they make life more difficult, or they make people cross, or they help us make the right choices? What do you think? That's correct.

Rules are important because they help us make the right choices.

Great work.

"Are there any other reasons we have rules," wonders Andeep.

"Rules are important because they help us make the right choices and live happily together.

At home, I choose to follow rules, like saying, 'Please,' and, 'Thank you,' and helping my family," says Sophia.

"These choices show respect and kindness." Rules help everyone to make the right choices.

Let's think about how they help you make right choices.

Be safe, we wear seat belts in the car, so we don't get hurt.

Be fair, we take turns with toys, so everyone gets a chance.

Be happy, rules help us learn, play, and get along together.

Let's see if you got that.

If there were no rules, people might not know what to do, and things could get unsafe and messy.

What do you think? Is it true or false? True.

That's correct.

Rules help us know what's right and wrong.

Without rules, people might not take turns, share, or stay safe.

Time for our next task.

You're going to have a go at trying some philosophy.

Our big question was, why do we have rules? Can you imagine two situations where we need rules? What would happen if there were no rules? And think about why do we need rules in those situations.

You can pause the video now and come back when you're ready with your answers.

Let's check your answers.

Here are some examples.

Rules help us to be kind and fair to each other, which makes everyone happy and helps us get along.

Rules also help us make good choices, like taking turns with toys, so everyone gets a chance and feels included.

If we didn't take turns, it would not be fair to everyone.

Or you might have answered, "Rules keep us safe and help us know what to do, so no one gets hurt, and we can all feel looked after.

Rules guide are choices, like walking on the pavement, so we don't get hurt, and following school rules, so we can learn and play safely." Well done if you included that in your answer.

Great work.

Let's quickly recap our learning from today's lesson.

We've learned that philosophy is about asking big questions and thinking hard.

We also learned that we can use philosophy to understand why we have rules.

Rules guide the choices we make every day in places like school, home, and on the road to keep everyone safe and respectful.

Following rules helps us to make good choices that show kindness, fairness, and respect to others.

Well, you've been a brilliant thinker today.

Thank you for joining in and thinking like philosophers today.

You did a fantastic job.

That's it for today's lesson.

And I'll see you in our next lesson.

Goodbye.