Mentees learn about being a part of a community (e.g., the Self-Determination Program, their classroom, The Bridge School).
Mentees learn about rights and responsibilities and the difference between them.
Mentees and mentors discuss rights and responsibilities they have as members of a community.
Mentees identify rights and responsibilities that are important to them as an individual.
Mentees discuss with the team rights they may want to develop, protect and keep as an individual.
Mentees discuss with the team responsibilities they may want to take on and build competency with as an individual or as a student in a community.
Mentees begin to learn about goals and the concept of working towards something they want to change or achieve.
Mentees review all the information gathered from the Rights & Responsibilities activity and work with the Self-Determination Program team to determine if there is something within that information they would like to change or begin doing – For example:
Mentors:
Self-Determination Program staff introduce the topic of Rights and Responsibilities and the difference between the two. Staff provide examples that students can use to draw connections to their own lives. For example:
“A right is a freedom that is protected, such as the right to free speech – saying what you feel, asking for what you need, etc. A responsibility is a duty or something you should do, such as recycling, doing your homework, packing your backpack to go home, setting up the lunch table if asked by the teacher, etc.” (Adapted from BrainPop Jr.)
The teacher and students discuss rights and responsibilities.
The students are asked to think about important rights in school.
The mentors provide examples of rights and responsibilities that they feel are important in their lives.
“This is a very important lesson for you. When I was your age, I did not know what my rights were as a student. For example, I didn’t understand that it was my right to ask for a drink during my lunch. Here are some of the rights that we feel are important.
Here are some responsibilities that we feel are important.
Self-Determination Program staff introduce and discuss different rights and responsibilities in four areas:
The student selects what he feels are important rights.
The student shares some of his important responsibilities.
Once all of the rights and responsibilities across the four areas are introduced and reviewed, mentors explain that mentees will vote on which rights and responsibilities are most important. Self-Determination Program staff introduce the concept of voting and develop a charter for the group. For example:
“Voting means you make a choice – we vote on who will be the President of the United States. Voting is both a right and a responsibility! We will put the rights and responsibilities on something called a charter. Our charter will be a document that describes the rights and responsibilities that we can all follow.”
“Rights and Responsibilities.” BrainPOP Jr. BrainPop International, 1999. Web. 02 Nov. 2013. https://jr.brainpop.com/socialstudies/citizenship/rightsandresponsibilities/