The Social Contract Lesson Plan

Creating a Social Contract

Kind of Activity:

Role Play

Objective:

Students will put into practice some of the concepts and principles of social contract theory.

Common Core Standards:

N/A

Structure:

For this activity, students will be asked to imagine that their school exists in a "State of Nature", and then to create a social contract for their classroom.

This social contract must serve as a basis for their future in the classroom; as such, it should incorporate some of the following elements:

1. Rights – what must students sacrifice in the way of their liberties? what will they gain?

2. Obligations – what responsibilities do students have vis-à-vis one another?...