Fairness Experiments

Understanding that fairness isn't always about everyone getting exactly the same helps children develop nuanced thinking about justice and equity.

Objectives

Materials

Instructions

Introduce a fairness puzzle: 'I have three apples to share with three children. What's fair?' (One each—easy!) Then complicate: 'I have three apples, but one child didn't have breakfast. What's fair now?'

Explore the difference between equal and equitable: 'Equal means everyone gets the same. Equitable means everyone gets what they need. Sometimes these are different!'

Conduct fairness experiments: divide snacks or supplies in different ways. 'First, let's divide equally. Now let's think about what each person needs—might the division be different?'

Discuss classroom examples: 'Is it fair that some students get extra help with reading? Why?' Help children see that different needs might require different responses, and that's fair too.

Explore fairness in games: 'Is it fair to play a game where the oldest always wins? What would make it more fair?' Redesign games to be fairer.

Create a Fairness Journal where children record fairness questions they encounter: 'I wondered if it was fair when...' Discuss these as a class.

Educator tip

This topic can get personal if children feel they don't receive what they want. Validate feelings while helping them see broader perspectives: 'You feel like it's unfair. I understand. Let's think about why the teacher might have decided that.'

Assessment

Assess against Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Document evidence of 'expected' or 'exceeding' descriptors. Note: independent application of skills, ability to explain reasoning, and capacity to build on prior learning. Observe understanding of equal vs. equitable, quality of fair solutions generated, and ability to reason about fairness.

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