In this lesson, students are asked to select from a list of potential jurors those most likely to be fair and impartial in a trial of Goldilocks v. The Three Bears. Students are prompted to justify why each juror they chose would be impartial, and so gain an understanding of the challenges associated with selecting an impartial jury.
Independence Day Lesson Plans & Resources
On July 4 each year, the United States celebrates Independence Day. This day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in which citizens of the thirteen American colonies announced their break from the British Empire and their intention to form a new nation: the United States of America. This Share My Lesson collection provides educators with free preK-12 lesson plans, activities, and materials to use to teach their students about Independence Day.
People Who Make Courts Work
Students are presented with a situation in which a person is accused of committing a crime. They will then identify the people in the courtroom who are responsible for ensuring due process in determining the person’s innocence or guilt.
Salem Witch Trials
This lesson centers around a short play in which the accused person is given an obviously unfair trial. Students are asked to discuss why they think the trial is unfair, and propose measures to rectify the problems they found. It leads naturally into a discussion of why we have due process guarantees under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Seeking Facts to Solve Mysteries
In this lesson, students will discuss the difference between fact and opinion. They will role play a mock trial, decide the case, and justify their decision. Students will discuss why facts are more reliable than opinions, and understand why courts rely more upon facts than opinions.
A Famous Kansas Child
In this lesson, students will read about a Kansas child involved in a famous United States Supreme Court case. They will think critically to form opinions about equality, segregation, and integration, and will distinguish between fact and opinion.
Fair Treatment
In this lesson, students discuss whether fairness means treating everyone exactly alike or whether it might be justified to treat people differently in special circumstances. The instructor can then explain how the law attempts to preserve fairness.
Martin’s Big Words
In this lesson, students will experience unequal treatment first hand – some will receive a sticker based on an arbitrary characteristic, like hair color – and by discussing their reactions, they will come to understand the meaning of equality. Students will learn about the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King and write about what his dream for equality means in their own lives.
Introducing the First Amendment
Students will inductively discover the First Amendment by reading and analyzing newspapers. They will discuss various circumstances involving the First Amendment, and so understand that in certain instances – libel, publication of national secrets, etc. – there is a limit to the freedoms expressed in the First Amendment.
No Vehicles in the Park
In this lesson, students will apply a general law – “no vehicles in the park” – to specific circumstances in considering the language of the law and its intended objective. The task will require that they interpret the law to allow for certain circumstances – an ambulance carrying a dying patient, for example. The lesson ends with students rewriting the law to more clearly reflect the intent of the lawmakers.