Curated OER
Case Studies on the Sixth Amendment
High schoolers trace the historical background of the sixth Amendment to the Constitution. They identify the legal issues and legal arguments in the cases studied, and evaluate the court's decisions.
State Bar of Texas
Gideon v. Wainwright
How does a trial begin without a lawyer for the defendant? The 1963 Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright serves as the backdrop for the study of the rights of the accused. Scholars use a short video along with paired discussion and...
Curated OER
Council/Counsel
In this council and counsel worksheet, learners choose the correct word to complete each sentence. Students choose council or counsel for 6 sentences.
Curated OER
Simulated Genetic Counseling Session
Students, in groups, prepare a family history for a family with a genetic condition. They simulate a genetic counseling session and listen to a guest lecture by a genetic counselor.
Curated OER
Gideon v. Wainwright
Students examine the right to counsel and due process. For this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Gideon v. Wainwright and discuss the implications of the decision.
Curated OER
Your Right to an Attorney
An outstanding instructional activity on a person's right to have attorney's representation in a court case is here for your young learners of the law. Pupils read a lengthy account that spells out the laws regarding legal...
American Psychological Association
Sexual Orientation and Youth
A 24-page manual provides principals, educators, and other school personnel with factual information about sexual orientation development, important legal principles they must consider, and problematic efforts to change sexual...
Curated OER
Oral Arguments Online
Students conduct a mock oral argument based on the briefs provided and further research as assigned by the instructor. They write an opinion for the case outlining why one legal argument prevailed over the other based on their own...
Curated OER
Government Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan 9
Young scholars examine and compare/contrast the steps of criminal and civil cases. They define key vocabulary terms, develop an outline of a criminal and civil trial, and analyze the differences in standards of proof in legal cases.
C-SPAN
The Impact of Citizens United v. FEC
What began as an effort to show a movie by an interest group has impacted financing of federal elections. Did the Citizens United case lead to more "dark money" in politics, or did it shine a light with more speech? Using video clips...
Childnet International
Crossing the Line: Sexting
Technology may be changing every day, but peer pressure remains difficult for teenagers to resist. After watching a video about feeling pressured to text provocative pictures, middle schoolers learn about the laws and school policy...
Curated OER
Genetic Disease Symposium
Students research simple and complex inheritance patterns, fetal development and the potential complications of teratogens, fetal and genetic testing, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic counseling.
Curated OER
Treating Substance Abuse Problems
Students conduct an open discussion on the legal, social, and health consequences associated with substance abuse. Working in pairs, students discuss the effects of substance abuse and brainstorm possible solutions. Independently,...
Curated OER
David Beckham to Defend Marriage in Court
In this reading/listening learning exercise, students role play. Students pretend to be married to a celebrity. Students also role play marriage counseling.
Mexic-Arte Museum
El Dia de los Muertos
Celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday El Dia de los Muertos! Explore the intricate history behind the traditions, compare other cultural rituals honoring the dead, and create sugar skulls. Learners read informational text on Aztec...
Heritage Foundation
Procedural Rights: Amendments VI, VII, and VIII
Even in court, your class members have procedural rights provided by the amendments. Teach high schoolers this important lesson by using the 18th installment of a 20-part unit exploring the US Constitution. The resource provides several...
Curated OER
Courts in the Classroom: Ritter v Stanton
Learners read the case briefs of Ritter v Stanton. They simulate the trial with classmates taking various parts such as appellant, appellee, bailiff, and justices. After conducting a mock argument, they write their own opinion for the case.
Curated OER
Declare the Causes: The Declaration of Independence
Students study the Declaration of Independence and the process our founding fathers went through to get it written and signed. They analyze other similar historical documents and draft and present their own declarations.
School Improvement in Maryland
Court Proceedings Civil Cases
What's the difference between civil and criminal law? How do the court proceedings differ in these two types of trials? How do the standards of proof differ? Why do these differences exist? As part of their examination of the US court...
Department of Education (Ireland)
Consequences
11 lessons, designed to be used in consecutive order, ask middle and high school scholars to consider the effects of various drugs and the consequences of taking them for themselves and their families. They also develop the communication...
Curated OER
Oral Arguments Online
Young scholars participate in their own mock oral arguments. They create their own opinions and discuss any opposing opinions. They write their own opinion for a case to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Genetic Ethics Debate
Students select topics relating to bioethical questions which they research and debate. They, in groups, select topics and are given two to three weeks to research their topics, taking advantage of their school libraries and local public...
Curated OER
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Summit
Students examine the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Summit. In groups, they use the internet to research world leaders and discuss the peace process. To end the instructional activity, they present their findings along with issues that...
Curated OER
Twelve Angry Men: Trial by Jury as a Right and as a Political Institution
Students explore the constitutional guarantee of the right to trial by jury. In this U. S. Constitution lesson plan, students read or view Twelve Angry Men and respond to discussion questions regarding the jury. Students examine the...