Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Fair and Equal - What's the Difference?
What is equal is not always fair. What is fair is not always equal. Are you confused by what you just read? Let me explain what I mean in those two sentences. First, the words "fair" and "equal" do not mean the same thing. Equal means "exactly alike." Pretend that you got ten dollars from your aunt for your birthday in March. Your brother also got ten dollars for his birthday in July. Your aunt is treating you and your brother equally. She is giving you both exactly the same amount of money - even though you are two years older than your brother.
Your parents may treat you in a different way than they treat your younger brother. Your parents are trying to be fair with you. Fair means that you give or take based on your personal needs, not anyone else's. You are older than your brother. His bedtime is eight o'clock. Your bedtime is nine o'clock. Your parents are not treating you the same or as equals. They are being fair to you. They are treating you a little different from your brother because you are old enough to stay up a little later.
Recall the difference between fair and equal using only fourteen words. To remember what equal means say, .....
