I+Need+My+Own+Country!+Reinforcing+Activity


 * Reinforcing Activity: **

__Objective__: Students will be able to create their own list of rules depending on what is valued in their country.

__Materials__:
 * I Need My Own Country Book
 * Chart Paper
 * Construction Paper
 * Coloring Utensils (crayons, markers, colored pencils)
 * Glue
 * Scissors

__Activity__:
 * 1) To begin, the teacher will conduct a read-aloud with the class and they will read the story I Need My Own Country.
 * 2) Upon completing the read-aloud, have a class discussion about the things that the girl in the story needed to begin her own nation. Ask students the things a country needs.
 * 3) Ensure that the students understand the physical qualities that a country has. These can include the national anthem, a country flag, a national flower, and/or a national animal. Make sure the students also discuss what other things the girl displayed in her story. This is where the topic of rules comes into play. Discuss how we need to have rules to keep a country in order and how there has to be consequences that occur when individuals break those rules.
 * 4) Break students into groups and have each group come up with a new country. Tell them they need to come up with a name for their country and some of the other things they saw in the book. Using the craft supplies they can create a flag, money, and a bird. Allow students 15-20 minutes to create their country.
 * 5) Next, have the students use the chart paper and come up with a list of rules for their country. They also have to come up with consequences for when citizens break their rules.
 * 6) After, each group has completed their rules, they will present them to the other groups. The students have to explain why they chose these rules for their countries and why they chose those consequences for each rules.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When each group has presented, ask the whole class why it is important to have rules. If students struggle, teacher can ask questions such as, “what happens when we don’t have rules?”
 * 8) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This discussion can eventually lead to the class taking part in creating their own classroom rules. This can be done at the beginning of the year, as an activity for the teacher to create classroom rules. This activity also allows the students to play an active role in creating the classroom rules and consequences that occur when the students break the rules.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Other Social Studies Standards that this book could teach:**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Grade:** First <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Economics, Financial Literacy <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Strand:** Currency is used as a means of economic exchange.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Grade:** Kindergarten <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">History, Heritage <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Strand:** Nations are represented by symbols and practices. Symbols and practices of the United States include the American flag, Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Country, Rules, Laws, Economics, Currency, Flags, Citizens, Leaders
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Keywords: **