Judicial Learning Center
Law and the Rule of Law
We hear a lot about the importance of the rule of law, but most people do not really know what those words mean. The lesson is a webpage that defines the rule of law, explains why it is important in a democratic society and provides...
Curated OER
More Rules, Consequences and Procedures
Eighth graders list the four classroom rules and turn them in for an assignment grade. They give examples that break the rule and explain what happens when they break a rule in the classroom. They imagine that they are a wonderful cook...
Curated OER
Making Good Decisions
Young scholars analyze the consequences that result from their choices. In this good decision-making lesson, students listen to an article in the "Little Planet Times" and complete the associated worksheet. They participate in a role...
Curated OER
Welcome to Our Classroom
Students create a brochure for new students. In this writing process lesson, students brainstorm, create and edit ideas for making a brochure for new students. Students use a word processor to make the brochure and edit, copy,...
Judicial Learning Center
Civil Rights and Equal Protection
Almost every American is familiar with the Supreme Court case of Brown vs. Board of Education. Far fewer understand the constitutional reasoning or the wide-ranging consequences of the ruling in the field of criminology. The interesting...
Discovery Education
Making Your Voice Count
As learners watch a video on voting, they take notes on a worksheet that lists various voting topics, including electoral and popular votes, early voting, and exit polling. Then, young people research the Internet for their state's...
Judicial Learning Center
Your Day in Court
Whether out of choice or necessity, people want to know what will happen on a typical day in court. A helpful lesson walks scholars in the field of criminology through the trial process from opening statements to the final verdict.
Curated OER
Creating a Caring Class
Pupils create a caring classroom environment, where they respect and care about each other, and the people and pets in their lives. They explore the importance of respect and kindness. Students are asked "What does it mean to respect...
Curated OER
Representation: Majority rule
Students explore various forms of decision making including majority rule, executive, consensus and autocracy (as well as exploring the power of veto), when they debate a bill in a class parliament.
Curated OER
Core Democratic Values in Action
Learners compare and contrast rules they have in their homes and in the classroom. In this values lesson, students identify rules at home and relate to rules of other families. They list family rules, connect classroom rules to values...
Curated OER
Following the Law
Learners discriminate between what makes a rule or law good or bad. They each choose a classroom problem and come up with a rule to solve it. They present their rules to the class, who discusses whether to adopt the rule.
Curated OER
Getting Down to Business
Three lesson plans are shown on this site, two of which pertain to Read 180. Start the year with the first instructional activity by having your learners create a brochure about themselves. In the computer lab, they find clip art and...
Curated OER
Establshing Class Rules
Second graders review the importance of rules, the consequences that follow broken rules, and the establishment that everyone plays an important role in order for the classroom or community to be safe and orderly.
Curated OER
Making an Appeal
Students make an appeal. In this making an appeal lesson students give characteristics of the Washington Supreme Court. Students examine public policy conflicts and present an appellate case.
Nemours KidsHealth
Water Safety: Grades 9-12
Make a big splash with a lesson about water safety. After reading three articles related to water safety, high schoolers first choose one water safety rule to research and write a report summarizing their findings. They then use an...
National Constitution Center
Writing Rights: The Bill of Rights
Where did the cherished ideals enshrined in the Bill of Rights originate? While history gives the Founding Fathers much of the credit, laws in colonial America influenced the Bill of Rights. An interactive web-based activity allows...
Heritage Foundation
The Amendment Process and the Bill of Rights
Did you know that lawmakers have proposed more than 5,000 bills to amend the US Constitution in Congress? Your class learns intriguing facts about the process of choosing amendments. A variety of activities including before and after...
Curated OER
A Peaceful Classroom
Students complete activities to analyze and create a peaceful environment. In this peaceful living lesson, students read about Sadako and how she is associated with peace. Students practice making paper cranes, discuss their beliefs...
Curated OER
Stand Firm: Choice and Consequences
Students explore the Holocaust. For this world history lesson, students research Nazi oppression under Hitler's rule as they read Holocaust and Human Behavior and Facing the Lion: Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe.
Curated OER
Making Polite Conversation
High schoolers become familiar with the polite forms of conversation that are used in this country. They role play making requests using polite forms. Students write an appropriate thank you not to a host or hostess. This lesson is...
Judicial Learning Center
Judicial Independence
Most people support the idea of an independent judiciary in theory until they hear about a court case that violates their principles. An informative resource explains why the concept is important. It also provides scholars of criminology...
Judicial Learning Center
State Courts vs. Federal Courts
Popular culture often portrays the Feds as the most fearsome of law enforcement agencies. Yet, someone charged with a crime is considerably more likely to end up in a state court. The lesson, one of six covering the Organization of the...
Curated OER
Pens, Paper and ... Cellphones?
Students consider the benefits that so-called disruptive technology can have in the classroom, then design class activities that feature such technology prominently. They write essays responding (as students) to their classmates'...
Discovery Education
Ahead of the Game
According to the movie Wildcats, "It's the sport of kings, better than diamond rings, football!" It is also, however, the sport of severe concussions and ongoing blows to the head. In order to keep our Seahawks soaring and Broncos...