Navigation
An introduction to the idea of justice through the lens of sharing and equal treatment during play.
Imagine you have a giant, yummy chocolate chip cookie to share with a friend. If your friend takes the whole cookie and leaves you with zero crumbs, does that feel right in your heart?
Fairness is like a scale that stays balanced. It means treating people in a way that is right and equal. When we play, fairness means everyone follows the same rules. If we have stickers and friends, giving to each person is fair because . It makes everyone feel included and happy. When things are fair, nobody feels left out or cheated. It is the 'glue' that keeps friendships strong!
Let's look at how to share blocks fairly: 1. You have a pile of blocks. 2. You give blocks to your friend. 3. You keep blocks for yourself. 4. Because , you both have the same amount to build with!
Quick Check
If two people get the exact same amount of time on a swing, is that fair?
Answer
Yes, because they are being treated equally.
Sometimes things are unfair. This happens when one person gets more than they should, or when someone breaks the rules to win. Imagine playing a game of Tag, but one person says they can never be 'it' because they are wearing blue shoes. That isn't fair because the rules aren't the same for everyone. Being unfair can make people feel sad, angry, or lonely.
Imagine a race between Sam and Leo: 1. Sam starts right at the finish line. 2. Leo starts way back at the beginning. 3. Sam wins the race easily. This is unfair because they did not have the same starting point. To make it fair, they should both start at the same line.
Quick Check
Why is it unfair if only one person gets to pick what game to play every single day?
Answer
Because the other person never gets a turn to choose, and fairness means everyone gets a chance.
We can be 'Fairness Detectors!' If we see something unfair, we can suggest a solution. A solution is a way to fix the problem so everyone is happy. We can use taking turns, sharing, or voting to make sure everyone is treated well. Even if we don't get exactly what we want right away, fairness means we all get a turn eventually.
How do we solve a problem with three friends? 1. There are friends but only bouncy balls. 2. They decide to use a kitchen timer. 3. Every minutes, they swap so the person who was waiting gets a ball. 4. This is called a rotation, and it ensures everyone gets to play!
What is a simple definition of fairness?
Which of these is an UNFAIR situation?
Fairness means that everyone always gets exactly what they want at the same time.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the 'scale' analogy. What does it mean for a scale to be balanced in a game?
Practice Activity
During recess or play today, look for one moment where you can practice 'taking turns' with a toy or a game.