Rights and Responsibilities

Suggested Duration: 60 minutes

Key Stage 2

Learning Objective

To learn and understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals in society

Key Words

Rights, responsibilities, community, individual

Islamic Values

Islam teaches us to claim what is rightfully ours and to fulfil our responsibilities to others.

Citizenship Values

Good citizens would claim their rights and also carry out their responsibilities.

Resources

Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2001(a): Pupils' Rights and Responsibilities in School
Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2001(b): Pupils' Rights and Responsibilities in Madrasah
Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2002: Rights and Responsibilities in School and Madrasah

Activities

Ask some quick questions to recap the last lesson. Share the lesson objectives.

A Starter Activity

Ask pupils what the terms 'rights' and 'responsibilities' mean. Give them a few minutes to talk to each other and then take quick feedback.

Explain that 'rights' are the things that you are entitled to, those things which you should have without having to ask for them, for example, education, health, a safe environment. Explain that the United Nations has a charter (a set of rules) that lists the rights of children and young people. Share with the class that in some parts of the world children have to work long hours without sufficient food or decent wages. They have no right to these entitlements.

Ask pupils to list five rights they think that they have in the UK. Take feedback.

Explain that 'responsibilities' are those things that you should do, the things for which you are responsible. So, for example, you have a responsibility to do your homework, to respect your parents and to pray five times a day.

Ask pupils to list five things that they are responsible for. Take feedback.

Explain that having individual rights means that you also have to take on some responsibilities.

B Development

Activity 1: Rights and Responsibilities

Split the class into two groups and give one of the following activities to each of the groups.

Group 1: You are all headteachers of a new school. What rights will you give to your students in the school to ensure that the school runs successfully? What responsibilities will you give to your pupils. Use Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2001(a) to list these rights and responsibilities.

Group 2: You are all headteachers of a new madrasah. What rights will you give to your students in the madrasah in order for this to run successfully? What responsibilities will you give to your pupils? Use Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2001(b) to list these rights and responsibilities.

Take feedback and discuss a few comments.

Give out Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2002 and discuss their rights and responsibilities in school and Madrasah.

Activity 2: Islamic Guidance

Ask a pupil to recite the following verses. Explain the meaning.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

O believers! Stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others prevent you from being just. Be just, that is nearer to piety. And observe your duty to God; indeed God is well aware of what you do.' (Surat al-Ma'idah 5:8)

Question: What is our duty to others and what is fair dealing?

Suggested answer: Treat others fairly and justly. We should treat others the way we would like to be treated ourselves. We must fulfil our responsibilities to others honestly.

C Plenary

Read the following statements and ask pupils to identify if each is their 'right' or 'responsibility'.

To receive medical treatment in hospital (Right)
To respect public property (Responsibility)
To share your computer/games with your sister/brother (Responsibility)
To be taught how to pray properly (Right)
To be educated (Right)
To vote (when 18) (Right/Responsibility)
To respect the law of the country (Responsibility)
Not to harm others (Responsibility)
Not to be harmed by others (Right)

Ask pupils to discuss which of the two is more important – the right or the responsibility.

Take feedback and sum up that rights go hand in hand with responsibility.

Suggested Follow-up Work

Ask pupils to talk to their parents about what they think their rights and responsibilities are. They should list at least five rights and five responsibilities they have at home or in the community.

Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2001(a)

Pupils' Rights and Responsibilities in School

| Rights | Responsibilities | | :----- | :--------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2001(b)

Pupils' Rights and Responsibilities in Madrasah

| Rights | Responsibilities | | :----- | :--------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Pupils' Activity Sheet 2.2002

Rights and Responsibilities in School and Madrasah

You have the right to a safe environment.
You have a responsibility to follow safety rules.
You have the right to voice your opinion.
You have a responsibility to respect the opinions of others.
You have the right to use school/madrasah books, materials and equipment.
You have a responsibility to take care of all school/madrasah equipment.
You have the right to fair treatment.
You have a responsibility to treat others fairly.
You have the right to a good education.
You have a responsibility to do your best.