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Activity 13
Signs in Our Life: Guides or Orders?

Adapted from "Sign Walk,"in Patterns for Teaching Conflict.  New York: Center for Global Perspectives,1976. pp 7-8.

Grade Level

Middle School

Introduction

Students (indeed, all citizens) are constantly confronted with permissions or prohibitions evidenced in the multiple signs that abound in our society: road signs; directional signs; advertisements; etc.  Sometimes these seem to be "ordering" us around, while others may appear to be so simple as to be obvious, and, therefore, unnecessary.  Small children especially need to begin to grapple with the notion of rules and why they are necessary to bring order to a community of diverse people.

Teacher/Student Objective

The goal of this activity is to provide a way to talk about community rules and why we have them.  Students should begin to see rules (such as those embodied in) as ways to resolve conflicts fairly and quickly, rather than as "orders."

Gauging Student Understanding

The progress indicators cited reflect desirable end goals. Teachers should be prepared to use a wide variety of observational, testing and authentic achievement evaluation measures in judging the progress of students.

Through the examination of a wide variety of actual signs (in various venues), and discussing them, illustrating them, acting them out or creating their own, the students will begin to manifest their understanding that rules (as revealed in signs) perform the function of helping people to avoid conflict.

Suggested Materials

• A supply of construction paper and crayons or colored markers.
• Examples of signs (to initiate discussion).
• Permission to take students on an extended walk (in a local area, the community, school, etc.)

Initial Data for Consideration and/or Process

The accumulation of sign data can be achieved by taking the class on a walk around the classroom, school and/or the local community.  The sign information should be recorded by students.  If time allows, the students might be asked to illustrate the with appropriate pictures.  They may then be used in class for discussion purposes.  The following questions will help guide students toward understanding the purpose of rules in any society:

• What does the sign say?  Why do you think it was put where it was?
• What would happen if the sign wasn't there?
• Would you have any trouble with any other people?  Would you be likely to damage buildings or land?  Would you be hurt yourself?
• Is the sign a good way to handle these problems?
• Does the sign make the problems go away completely?
• Can you think of a better sign?  Or is this one just right?
• If you wanted to change the sign, what could you do?

Other Possible Activities

• Applying this learning to the actual classroom in which the children exist is great reinforcement.  What about our classroom rules?  Are there rules that some of us sometimes forget?  Would a sign help us to remember?  Would a sign help us to avoid conflict with another person?  What do you think this sign should say?  Will everyone always remember to do what the sign says?  Why might it be important for us to remind each other about the sign (rule)?  What might we do if someone didn't do what the sign (or rule) says?
  
• This is a particularly good lesson for the beginning of the school year.
  
  
  

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