---
title: Local Policies
description: Students will be able to explain one local policy in their community or classroom and what problem the policy or rule is intended to address.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/local_policies-001-1.png
---

**Subject: Civics; Social Studies**

**Lesson Length: 45 mins**

**Topic: Civics: Processes, Rules, and Laws**

**Grade Level: 3, 4, 5**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [C3: D2.Civ.13.3-5](https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/2017/Jun/c3-framework-for-social-studies-rev0617.pdf)

**Brief Description:**  Students will be able to explain one local policy in their community or classroom and what problem the policy or rule is intended to address.

**Know Before You Start:** Students should be familiar with their classroom and school rules.

**Hook:**

- Ask students: 
    - “Why do we have rules?”
    - “What are some consequences students face if they do not follow policies that are put into place?”
    - “What are our classroom and school policies?”
    - “What are the local policies in our community?”
    - “Who creates local policies in our community?”

**Activity:**

- As a class, discuss the difference between a law, policy, and rule. 
- Create cards with one community or classroom policy/rule per card.
- Have students form partnerships or small groups. Give each partnership or group one of the cards with a policy/rule on it. 
- Have each group create a skit or role play to represent the policy/rule without saying the actual policy or rule aloud. The skit should highlight what problem the policy or rule is intended to help solve or address.
- Have the students in the audience guess what the policy or rule is.
- Have students select a policy or rule and create a comic about how it addresses a problem.

**Closure:**

- Have students share their comics with a partner or in small groups.
- Tell students that today's comics highlight local and classroom policies. Understanding these rules and their purposes helps everyone follow and remind others to follow them.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Provide students with a graphic organizer, such as Draw/Plan Then Write, to map out their comic before creating.

**Resources:**

- Comic to print or display: [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/roi4pid).
- [Draw/Plan Then Write](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/Printables/Graphic%20Organizers_10.pdf)
- Video: [Why are Rules Important?](https://youtu.be/WB3zolACjuI?si=pXOiSR3luBMjQYUg) by MDR Education Bros Channel
- Video: [Local and State Government](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR0kdgWcU_A) by BrainPop Jr.
- Video:[ Local Government Departments](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVQhFIF2-tI) by Kids Academy
- Video: [Why Policies and Procedures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5gYZyHicEg) by DCAA Compliance
- *Super Manny Cleans Up* by Kelly DiPucchio and Stephanie Graegin
- [Themed book list by Reading Rockets on Civics and Our Government](https://www.readingrockets.org/books-and-authors/booklists/civics-and-our-government-0/civics-and-our-government)

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2078530841190330368/thumbnail.png) Elementary School ](https://content.pixton.com/elementary-school)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2078819503655550976/thumbnail.png) Library ](https://content.pixton.com/library)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-legislative-rev1.png) U.S. Legislative Branch ](https://content.pixton.com/u.s.-legislative-branch)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-artificialintelligence.png) AI (Artificial Intelligence) ](https://content.pixton.com/artificial-intelligence)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1806750045945626624/thumbnail.png) U.S. Justice System ](https://content.pixton.com/u.s.-justice-system)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-u.s.%20judicial%20branch%202025-1.png) U.S. Judicial Branch ](https://content.pixton.com/u.s.-judicial-branch)

**Suggested Story Starters:**

- [ Cellphones Should Be Permitted in Class ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/cellphones-should-be-permitted-in-class)
- [ School Should Start Later ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/school-should-start-later)
- [ Taxes Are a Fair Way for Governments to Raise Money ](https://story-starters.pixton.com/taxes-are-a-fair-way-for-governments-to-raise-money)

Assign Activity

## Related Ideas

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/feudalism_brings_order_to_europe-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/feudalism-brings-order-to-europe)

### [Feudalism Brings Order to Europe](https://ideas.pixton.com/feudalism-brings-order-to-europe)

Students will understand why Feudalism was developed and the social hierarchy that resulted from this political landscape.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/perfect_patterns-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/perfect-patterns)

### [Perfect Patterns](https://ideas.pixton.com/perfect-patterns)

Students will create and explain their own number patterns and rules.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/local_goods-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/local-goods)

### [Local Goods](https://ideas.pixton.com/local-goods)

Students will be able to show a good or service that people in their local community produce.