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Lesson 1 of 1
  • All years

Why do we have rules?

I can explain that rules and laws exist to keep everyone safe and make sure everyone is treated fairly, and I know who I can ask for help.

Lesson 1 of 1
New
New
  • All years

Why do we have rules?

I can explain that rules and laws exist to keep everyone safe and make sure everyone is treated fairly, and I know who I can ask for help.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Rules help keep everyone safe and treat people fairly.
  2. Rules can vary from place to place.
  3. Laws are very important rules.
  4. Laws are for everyone to follow, even grown-ups.
  5. There are trusted adults and services who can help if the rules are broken.

Keywords

  • Rule - an instruction that tells you what you can and cannot do

  • Fair - treating everyone the same, people getting what they need

  • Law - very important rules, that everyone must follow

Common misconception

Rules are only for children.

Rules and laws apply to everyone, including adults, whilst rules may differ from place to place, laws stay the same everywhere.


To help you plan your all years rule of law lesson on: Why do we have rules?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When teaching about rules and laws, use everyday examples children know, like classroom rules or sharing toys.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a rule?

Correct answer: set of instructions to help us know how to behave
the choice to do whatever we want to
an award we get for being good

Q2.
Which of these is a rule?

Playing games is fun.
The time is 10 o'clock.
Correct answer: Shoes must be put away.

Q3.
The sentence is not finished. Add a word to complete the sentence to create a sensible rule. 'Inside, we walk around carefully. We do not .'

Correct Answer: run

Q4.
Put these words into the correct order to make a sentence about being fair.

1 - Being fair
2 - means
3 - thinking about
4 - what
5 - others
6 - need.

Q5.
Where can we find rules?

only in the classroom
only at home
Correct answer: in lots of different places
only in games

Q6.
Match the rule to what the activity is.

Correct Answer:use a knife and fork,eating dinner

eating dinner

Correct Answer:wear a helmet,riding a bike or scooter

riding a bike or scooter

Correct Answer:walk carefully,crossing the road

crossing the road

Correct Answer:put your hand up to answer a question,in school

in school

Assessment exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a law?

a game we play at home
Correct answer: an important rule everyone must follow
a choice we can ignore

Q2.
Fill in the missing word. and laws help keep people safe and make things fair.

Correct Answer: rules

Q3.
Match the words to whether it is a law, a rule or neither.

Correct Answer:Grass is green.,neither

neither

Correct Answer:Tidy your bedroom before bed.,rule

rule

Correct Answer:Wear a seatbelt in the car.,law

law

Q4.
Who might be good choices to help you if a rule is broken?

Correct answer: parent
Correct answer: teacher
stranger
Correct answer: a trusted adult

Q5.
Who might be good choices to help you if a law is broken?

bus driver
Correct answer: firefighters
Correct answer: parent
Correct answer: police

Q6.
Put these in the correct order to show what happens when a rule is broken.

1 - Someone breaks a rule.
2 - Something might be unfair or someone is not safe.
3 - A trusted adult is told.
4 - The trusted adult helps make things safe/fair by helping others follow rules.