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Lesson 3 of 4
  • Year 10

Rights and responsibilities in our community

I can explain how rights and responsibilities work together to build a safe community, and describe practical steps to take when I feel unsafe.

Lesson 3 of 4
New
New
  • Year 10

Rights and responsibilities in our community

I can explain how rights and responsibilities work together to build a safe community, and describe practical steps to take when I feel unsafe.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Everyone has rights in a community, including safety, free speech, religious belief and freedom from discrimination.
  2. With rights come responsibilities, including following laws, respecting others, and behaving appropriately in public.
  3. Harassment, discrimination and threatening behaviour is never acceptable and can have legal and social consequences.
  4. Staying calm and walking away from confrontation is safer and legally better than responding aggressively.
  5. When feeling unsafe, use practical strategies like staying in lit areas, 'Ask for Angela', and contacting police.

Keywords

  • Rights - the freedoms and protections everyone is entitled to, like safety, equality and free speech

  • Discrimination - when people are treated unfairly or differently because of things like their race, gender or beliefs

  • Responsibilities - the actions we are expected to take to respect others and follow the law

Common misconception

People can say whatever they want because they have freedom of speech.

While freedom of speech is a protected right, it comes with legal and social limits, such as not using language that is hateful, discriminatory or threatening.


To help you plan your year 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Rights and responsibilities in our community, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may want to adapt this lesson to your local community. For example, you could include the details of specific youth services or community projects which are accessed by pupils in your setting.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What do you think is the most important thing needed for people to live together peacefully in a community?

everyone having the same opinions and beliefs
having strict rules for everything
avoiding talking to people who are different
Correct answer: people respecting each other's differences

Q2.
Match each situation with what you think would be the best response.

Correct Answer:someone is bullying your friend,tell a trusted adult

tell a trusted adult

Correct Answer:you see graffiti being sprayed,report it to the local council or police

report it to the local council or police

Correct Answer:a group is blocking the pavement,ask them politely to move or find another route

ask them politely to move or find another route

Correct Answer:someone drops litter nearby,pick it up and throw it away if safe to do so

pick it up and throw it away if safe to do so

Q3.
Which word describes when people are treated unfairly or differently because of things like their race, sex or beliefs?

Correct Answer: discrimination

Q4.
Freedom of means people can express their opinions, but there are still rules about what they can say.

Correct Answer: speech

Q5.
Match each scenario with the most appropriate action.

Correct Answer:you feel unsafe walking alone at night,stay in well-lit areas and share your location with a trusted adult

stay in well-lit areas and share your location with a trusted adult

Correct Answer:you see someone being treated unfairly,speak up if safe to do so or get help from an adult

speak up if safe to do so or get help from an adult

Correct Answer:you see a friend being harassed online,support them and report the harassment

support them and report the harassment

Q6.
Which of these statements best describes what it means to live in a community where everyone's rights are protected and responsibilities are shared?

only popular people get special treatment
everyone follows the same strict rules
Correct answer: people feel safe and valued equally

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Why might police issue a dispersal order to a group in a public place?

because they are sitting quietly in a café
because they are walking in pairs through a park
Correct answer: because they are blocking a shop entrance
because they’re waiting at a bus stop after school
Correct answer: because they are repeatedly shouting at people passing by

Q2.
The from Harassment Act makes it illegal to follow, threaten or repeatedly contact someone in a way that causes fear or distress.

Correct Answer: Protection, protection

Q3.
Match each responsibility to the correct example of behaviour.

Correct Answer:respecting public space,keeping to one side on a busy pavement

keeping to one side on a busy pavement

Correct Answer:de-escalating conflict,walking away when someone tries to start an argument

walking away when someone tries to start an argument

Correct Answer:following police advice,leaving the area calmly when told to by an officer

leaving the area calmly when told to by an officer

Q4.
Which of the following is a right we have in our communities?

the right to refuse to work with someone different from you
Correct answer: the right to feel safe in public spaces
the right to ignore group rules in public
the right to say anything you want online

Q5.
Which behaviour could be classed as harassment in public?

asking a friend to repeat what they said
asking someone for directions
Correct answer: making repeated unwanted comments towards someone
speaking politely to a shop assistant

Q6.
Where can someone report or get support if they witness or experience harassment or feel unsafe in their community?

a social media comment section
Correct answer: a safeguarding lead
Correct answer: a trusted adult
a group chat
Correct answer: the police