Center for History Education
Cold War Case Files: The Rosenberg Trial - Was Justice Fairly Served?
The Rosenbergs—executed for their role in a Soviet-era spy ring—continue the captivate the American imagination. Using a history lab format, young historians examine the trove of documents associated with the case, including photographs...
Personal Genetics Education Project
DNA, Crime and Law Enforcement
Civil rights meets biotechnology in a instructional activity that scrutinizes the collection of DNA of citizens who have been arrested, but not yet convicted of a crime. Real-life cases are examined in which the DNA of a relative was...
Curated OER
Hiibel vs. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada
Did Hiibel's arrest and conviction for not telling a police officer his name violate his rights? Have your learners read a short description of the case and answer the comprehension questions that follow. Resource links and extension...
Curated OER
Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency
Students discuss cases in which juveniles were convicted of horrific crimes. They answer questions in which there are no right or wrong answers related to juvenile delinquency.
Curated OER
Torts: Intentional Torts
Learners 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 their...
Curated OER
Passport to Courage
Young scholars discuss the character trait of "courage of convictions" and apply this to their daily life. Using the internet, they research the life and work of Thomas McKean and discuss the courage needed to sign the Declaration of...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Scottsboro Boys and "To Kill a Mockingbird": Two Trials for the Common Core
Here's a must-have resource for anyone reading To Kill A Mockingbird or using Harper Lee's award-winning novel in a classroom. The packet contains Miss Hollace Ransdall's first-hand, factual account of the trials of the Scottsboro Boys,...
University of Pennsylvania
Using Comic Strips to Teach Multiple Perspectives
Scholars view comics from two different perspectives; one paints the Alfred Dreyfus as innocent, while the other portrays the exact opposite. They solve the mystery of what happened by analyzing the source, working in groups, and...
Curated OER
Search and Seizure: What Does It Mean?
Students, in a juvenile correctional facility, study the meaning of the Fourth Constitutional Amendment. They study definitions and complete worksheets to investigate the implications of the amendment.
Curated OER
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
Students examine equal protection. In this Supreme Court lesson plan, students examine primary documents from Korematsu v. United States and discuss the implications of the decision with regards to Japanese internment.
Curated OER
The Case of the Plugged Toilets:
Students identify the process for settling a criminal dispute (how are the facts of the case presented; how is the dispute resolved?, and
Curated OER
The Death Penalty -- Background and Quiz
Students participate in an activity about the death penalty. In groups, they research the history of corporal punishment and take notes on interesting facts. They identify and discuss the arguments for and against the use of it and...
Curated OER
Surprise at Pearl Harbor
Students review the concept of courage and relate it to their daily life. As a class, they are introduced to the events of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Using a map, they locate Hawai'i and label the islands. They use the internet to...
Curated OER
Respect
Students brainstorm what they believe having respect for someone else means. Individually, they share their own experiences about a time they felt respected and a time they did not. To end the lesson, they participate in a role-play...
Curated OER
Word Meanings From Context
In this word meanings worksheet, students read four text selections utilizing context clues to determine which multiple choice answer correctly states the meanings of each underlined word.
Curated OER
Paedophile Ring Busted
Students discuss recent police operation. In this pedophile ring bust instructional activity, students consider how to be safe when on the Internet and discuss recent article. The instructional activity includes a series of games,...
Curated OER
Confidence
Learners explore communication and confidence issues. In this communication and confidence lesson, students discuss fear, stage fright, phobia's in relation to the planks of confidence. Learners view a related film. Students explore...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: Schwarzenegger Allows Execution
In this ESL reading comprehension activity, students read or listen to a journalistic passage, complete warm-up activities and a wide variety of before, during, after, homework and discussion activities.
PBS
Pbs Newshour Extra: Exonerated Prisoners Face Uphill Climb
Video and article report on the struggles faced by people who have been found to have been wrongly convicted of crimes when they are finally released from prison. Includes critical thinking questions.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
This book tells the story of Bryan Stevenson, a young lawyer who establishes a legal practice, and takes on the case of Walter McMillian who was wrongly convicted for murder. Selected (8) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with "Just...
The Atlantic Monthly Group
The Atlantic: The Never Ending Wrong
The famous author, Katherine Anne Porter, wrote an article in the July, 1977, The Atlantic magazine, recounting her memory of the Sacco-Vanzetti trial fifty years before, and commenting on the view of Anarchism and Communism in the...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Testing for Bias in a Photo Lineup
You may have read about criminal cases where innocent people have been wrongly convicted of a crime. Sometimes, modern DNA analysis techniques have provided the evidence to exonerate these innocent people. In many cases, mistaken...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: The Dreyfus Affair Trials
This article details The Court Marial of Alfred Dreyfus. The document pieced together that September day in Paris, called "the bordereau," would launch a criminal process that would divide and convulse France for decades. The events set...
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: God Sees the Truth, but Waits by Leo Tolstoy
Read the short story, or a parable of forgiveness, called "God Sees the Truth, But Waits" by Leo Tolstoy about a man wrongfully convicted of murder.