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.
Judicial Learning Center
Why Study Landmark Cases?
Why study landmark Supreme court cases? A helpful lesson offers a brief but valuable argument for the importance of these cases in the field of criminology. It introduces scholars to some key terms necessary for studying court cases and...
Judicial Learning Center
The Constitution and Rights
What's the right way to teach young historians about the Bill of Rights? Many an instructor has asked this question when pondering lesson plans over the US Constitution. The Constitution and Rights is a nifty resource that provides a...
Curated OER
Do We Need a Permanenet International Criminal Court?: War Crimes, Violence, International Law and Politics, Nuremberg
In this lesson, students explore the history, relevance and current application of international tribunals for war crimes. Students look at cases from the Nuremberg trials, Tokyo trials and the Bosnian War.
Curated OER
Crimes from Mother Goose
Students use Nursery rhymes in a discussion of crimes and criminals in order to study how criminal law has developed and changed to maintain an organized society. They decide on the identity of criminals, the crime, and the name of the...
Curated OER
Explaining a Criminal History to Employers
Students explore, examine and identify strategies to gain employment despite a criminal history. They locate information that explains to them how to get a job if you have been convicted of a crime and view the video "Putting the Bars...
Heritage Foundation
Crime and Punishment
You wouldn't give someone a 10-day timeout for eating a piece of candy. The US government, too, does not believe in unreasonable punishment. A variety of exercises exploring the clauses of the US Constitution prompts class members to...
Judicial Learning Center
Getting Ready for Trial
A courtroom can be a scary place for the uninitiated. Get familiar with the process using a helpful overview of the activities that take place prior to both civil and criminal cases. The lesson explains the differences between civil and...
Mississippi Bar
The 2018 Mock Trial Case
All rise! Scholars put their skills to the test in a mock trial. Using evidence, photographs, and testimony, they role play the trial in the classroom. Rules of law—and the court room—come to life as the class becomes a place of law!
Bermudian Springs School District
John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath — Independent Reading
Lies, deceit, betrayal, criminality: these topics are just a few of the reasons that John Steinbeck's classic novel The Grapes of Wrath has captivated people since its 1939 publication. Scholars begin the lesson by reading background...
Curated OER
Social Studies: MySpace as Crime solver
Young scholars research how police use MySpace to apprehend criminals. They debate the pros and cons of this method and decide if the local policy needs to be changed. Students create a better policy for using the Internet and present it...
Curated OER
Tort Law -- Negligence
Students review the differences between criminal and civil law. In groups, they examine high-profile cases and identify any act of negligence. They create a list of the elements of negligence and answer discussion questions as they watch...
Curated OER
Torts: Intentional Torts
High schoolers are introduced to the concept of intentional torts. In groups, they compare and contrast civil and criminal wrongs committed by people. They are given case studies and use the elements of torts to apply to them. They share...
Curated OER
The Death Penalty
High schoolers examine how people are punished in the American justice system. In groups, they identify the four different theories of punishment and how it is used in the justice system. They use the internet to read arguments for and...
Curated OER
Writing As Criminal Evidence
Students research 2 famous forgery cases. For this forensics lesson, students are introduced to the methods of handwriting and paper analysis. They then use the Internet to study the cases of the Lindbergh baby and Howard Hughes'...
Curated OER
Ira Ritter, Et Al., V. Jerry And Ruth Stanton Lesson 2: What Does a Jury Do Anyway?
Students investigate how a jury is chosen, and what the rights and responsibilities of juries are. They examine case studies to determine the role of the jury in both criminal and civil cases.
Curated OER
Lesson: The U.S. Westward Movement
Students research the U.S. Westward movement. In this U.S. history lesson, students research the topic, complete a creative writing activity for the lesson, and a design activity for the lesson.
Curated OER
Role Playing Free Speech
Pupils conduct research into looking at a free-speech issue. They role play the events surrounding a court case. The lesson includes guiding questions to help create context and determine areas of further study. The presentation includes...
Judicial Learning Center
Judicial Independence: What’s Wrong with This Court?
Why is it important for judges to operate independently of politics or other branches of government? Scholars ponder the question as they examine video clips, case studies, excerpts of the US Constitution, and an interactive computer...
State Bar of Texas
Hernandez v. Texas
What if the jury is not made up of people from your ethnicity or background—are they still considered your peers? Scholars analyze the impact the Supreme Court case Hernandez v. Texas had on jury selection across the nation. Paired...
Curated OER
Affirmative Action
Students explore policies concerning affirmative action. After reading affirmative action handouts, students use the internet and other resources to research information about affirmative action laws, court cases, and arguments. They...
Curated OER
Paedophile Ring Busted
Students discuss recent police operation. In this pedophile ring bust lesson, students consider how to be safe when on the Internet and discuss recent article. The lesson includes a series of games, questions, and activities.
Curated OER
Symbolic Speech
Ninth graders consider the right of freedom of speech as it is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. They receive background information for the US Supreme Court, the Bill of Rights, and free speech. They discuss a series of actual cases...
BBC
Crime: Justice
Are the juvenile courts fair? Learners read a bit from the classic Oliver Twist to consider how young people are treated and represented when they've been accused of a crime. They read a case study from their books, discuss children's...