The Lorax Lesson

Using the classic Dr. Seuss book The Lorax, students watch the video then discuss civic responsibility and the importance of rules. Connections are made with city ordinances. This lesson can also be used to discuss how Sneedsville changed over time because of irresponsibility and lack of laws.

After watching The Lorax, think about the decisions we make and the responsibilities we have. Draft a classroom contract to establish rules and responsibilities within the classroom. Why do we need rules in the classroom? Why do we need for laws in the local community?

Here are some ways you can use what you've learned in The Lorax...

Promote the common good by helping other students in their class or in the lower grades (e.g., tutoring, reading aloud).
Research a problem or issue in the school. Can you design and implement a program or strategy to remedy the problem?

Dublin has many city ordinances. Here are a few of them.

Curfew for youths under age 13 is 9 p.m. during the school year, and 10 p.m. during the summer. Curfew areas include public streets, public places, places of entertainment, vacant lots, or other unsupervised places.
Animals are not permitted to run at-large. All pets should be securely leashed or under direct control when not on your property.
Texting while driving is not permitted in Dublin.
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as possible and obey all traffic laws that apply to vehicles.
No person in a park shall move, injure or destroy any bird nest or egg or any animal habitation.
No person shall knowingly cause a false alarm of fire, explosion, crime or another catastrophe that will cause public inconvenience or alarm.
Fire pits are permitted in Dublin, however, they must be 15 feet away from any structure. The fire needs to be in an approved outdoor container and can be no wider than three feet and no higher than two feet.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed.
Graffiti is prohibited. It shall be the responsibility of all property owners to expediently remove graffiti from their premises. All sidewalks, walls, buildings, fences, signs, rocks, trees, bridges, gates, and other structures or surfaces shall be kept free from graffiti when the graffiti is visible from the street or other public or private property.
No person in a park shall engage in the activities of swimming, wading, boating and ice skating in areas or at times which have not been set aside for these purposes by appropriate signage.

Discuss with a friend why each of these is important. Can you think of any other laws we should have?

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