06.11.07

In the Third Grade Program, students often work in groups, as it encourages open discussion about their opinions and ideas.  Here, students are working together to identify the similarities and differences between moral rules and legal rules.

The Rule of Law Initiative in Azerbaijan has successfully expanded its Street Law Program to include its youngest participants ever - third grade students.  Using games, group activities, and interactive methods, law students are now teaching eight and nine year-olds about respect for the rule of law as well as about their basic legal rights.  This expansion greatly increases the impact of the Street Law Program by working with children during a critical developmental stage. The program is supported by USAID.

The curriculum for the Third Grade Program was created by a team of legal experts, psychologists, and experienced Street Law trainers.  Working together, the group crafted lessons that distill sophisticated legal concepts and present them in a fun and engaging manner.  They also developed a special training program for selected law students to educate them about working with young children in addition to preparing them to teach the subject matter of the Street Law classes. 

Through the Street Law Program, third grade students will explore issues including the effect of rules on our communities; comparing moral rules and legal rules; a child’s right to education; what it means to be treated equally under the law; balancing free speech and respect for the opinions of others; and the consequences of taking something from others without asking (violations of property rights).

In elementary schools in Azerbaijan, students are not accustomed to being asked to share their personal opinions or to play learning games.  Thus, when the Street Law classes began, many of the third grade students, despite their interest in the subject matter, were hesitant to speak freely or to play an active role in the lesson.  Each week, the Street Law trainers have found that careful praise, combined with activities that encourage open discussion (such as group projects in which one student is selected to speak for the group), has been successful in increasing the students’ active participation.  Each week, the Street Law staff members have also found that the law student trainers are continually improving their ability to present legal information in basic terms and to effectively utilize interactive teaching methodologies.   

The Street Law Program now includes over 100 third graders in five Baku schools.  Classes are led by nine law students, who were specially selected and trained for this Program.  The ABA Street Law Program was established in 2004.

For more information, please contact Legal Education Liaison Katharine Larsen, at <katharine.larsen@aba-az.org>.