This past week during Social Studies, we celebrated CONSTITUTION DAY. Constitution Day is a time for us to reflect on the signing of the constitution which occurred on September 17, 1787 and to be thankful for rules, rights and responsibilities that we are given as United States citizens. In our classroom, we reviewed our first grade rules and discussed how the Constitution is a list of rules for all the people in our country. We read a book about the Constitution and learned about some of the founding fathers who created the constitution. We then made and signed our own classroom constitution. It is now posted in our classroom to remind us to be a good friend and to follow our first grade rules.

This week we also discussed what it means to be a good citizen. Each day we added another attribute to our “Good Citizen” chart. This is what we learned:

A Good Citizen…

1. FOLLOWS RULES. We discussed that we have rules to help us learn, to keep us safe, and to help make things fair, etc.

2. RESPECTS AUTHORITY. We brainstormed a list of people who have power with authority (principal, teachers, bus drivers, moms, dads, etc.) and how they enforce rules. When we listen and respond to those in authority, we are being respectful.

3. IS FAIR. We discussed what fairness looks like at school, and learned that fair isn’t always equal – fair means getting what you need in order to be successful.

4. IS RESPONSIBLE. We learned about ways that we can be responsible at school, such as making sure that you have all of your tools ready (without being asked). We are planning to begin classroom jobs this week to practice being responsible.

5. HONORS THE USA. One way we can do this is to respect and remember the symbols of the United States that represent our freedom such as the American flag, the White House, the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, and the Bald Eagle.

If you notice your “first grade citizen” displaying any of the attributes above be sure to commend him/her on a job well done!