Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Juvenile Justice - Adjudicatory Hearing

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students conduct a mock hearing in which they clearly define the role of prosecutor and defense council, while also determining the elements of robbery and defense of duress.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Justice: The Texas Cheerleader Plot

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars watch a video about one woman who planned to commit murder because of a cheerleading scandal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The March Continues

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students explore the Civil Rights Memorial. In this character development and U.S. History lesson, students employ reading comprehension strategies while reading a news article about the Civil Rights Memorial. Students work in groups to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Model Courtroom

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students construct a model of the Supreme Court's courtroom. They design the courtroom in such a way so that the architecture and furnishings in the courtroom represent the neutrality and power of the court.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mock Trial

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students rewrite a traditional fairy tale to represent the viewpoint of the villain. They participate in a mock trial of that villain in which all regular court participants (judge, jury, defendant, witnesses, plaintiff, etc) play roles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Trust and Confidence

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students analyze the judiciary system.  In this government instructional activity, students participate in a class discussion on methods to prevent unfairness in the Judicial courts.
Activity
Administrative Office of the US Courts

Engel v. Vitale

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
"Is school-sponsored prayer in public schools unconstitutional?" That is the question teams debate as they consider the arguments presented to the Supreme Court in Engel v. Vitale. The attorneys study the provided talking points and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of Autobiographical Writing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the concept of injustice. In this nonviolent resistance lesson, students discuss how autobiographical writing may be used to promote justice. Learners read an excerpt from Gandhi's autobiography and determine how his...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why a Mock Trial?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students participate in a mock trial. They discover how U.S. courts resolve conflicts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fair Dinkum!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students define fairenss, justice and equity as they are known to them. In groups, they role-play varoius scenerios and discuss their reactions to it. As a class, they share experiences in which they were treated unfairly and what could...
Lesson Plan
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Advocates for Human Rights

Mock Immigration Court

For Students 8th - Higher Ed Standards
As part of a unit study of immigration, class members participate in a mock Immigration Court activity in which they argue four cases before an immigration judge.
Activity
US Institute of Peace

Simulation on The Cambodia Peace Settlement

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Can there be peace in Cambodia? Immerse your class in a realistic negotiation setting during a riveting simulation. Learners assume the roles of key players in a group sparring with an opposing group to try to achieve peace in the midst...
Lesson Plan
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Center for Civic Education

The Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and Today

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
Discover the fascinating history of the Equal Rights Amendment and discuss the major implications and considerations associated with it today. Here you will find background information on the topic, a graphic organizer summarizing...
Lesson Plan
Carolina K-12

Are You a Democrat or a Republican? Are You Really?

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Have new or soon-to-be voters examine different political parties and their platforms as they figure out which one aligns most with their beliefs. After taking a few online quizzes, students split into pairs to discuss and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hopi Tribal Council

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Focusing on the differences between traditional Hopi government and the Hopi Tribal Council, this resource is a good addition to your unit on Native American culture. Learners conduct Internet research, analyze primary source photos, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Constitution

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Think about the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence with your budding historians. They analyze the importance of historical documents by examining several famous documents, and then they complete activities that check...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Good Law?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Why were laws created? Spark a group discussion on why we need laws to co-exist. Should the sale of some things be outlawed on Sundays? Read a case summary between Target and the state of Minnesota that debated this issue. Ask your...
Unit Plan
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Owl Teacher

Teach Ancient Rome!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Teaching the class about Ancient Rome can be fun for you and for them! Check out this incredible resource that has everything you need to bring ancient Roman civilization back to life. Begin by scrolling to the bottom of the page and...
Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

General George Washington, Military Leader

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Teach pupils the characteristics that make George Washington such an effective leader, especially in context of his time period. Scholars view artifacts, participate in group work, create lists, compare and contrast, and discuss as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Preamble to the Constitution: How Do You Make a More Perfect Union?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze the Preamble of the Constitution and identify the historical context that led to its wording. They, in groups, interpret phrases from the Preamble, examine relevant court cases and create illustrations for their portion...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Let Freedom Ring: The Life & Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use text and photos to visualize the delivery of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic "I Have A Dream" speech. They analyze Dr. King's speech for examples of imagery and allusion and create original poetry and illustrations...
Lesson Plan
2
2
National Endowment for the Humanities

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nonviolent Resistance

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Was nonviolent resistance the best means of securing civil rights for black Americans in the 1960s? In this highly engaging and informative lesson, your young historians will closely analyze several key documents from the civil rights...
Lesson Plan
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Center for Civic Education

The Power of Nonviolence: Rosa Parks: A Quest for Equal Protection Under the Law

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Teach young historians about the historical legacy of Rosa Parks with a multi-faceted lesson plan. Pupils follow stations and use journals to explore prominent events, analyze primary resource documents, and engage in interesting...
Activity
Teaching Tolerance

Identity Portraits

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
When you look at me, what do you see? Young learners answer this question by creating a portrait that reflects the identity of one of their peers. First, class members create interview questions. Then, they interview classmates to...

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