Curated OER
Lesson 4: The Judiciary: A Brief Introduction to the Courts System
Focusing on the judicial branch of government, the fourth lesson in this series explores the structure of the US courts system. Beginning with an engaging activity based on the short story The Lady or the Tiger, students go on to examine...
Curated OER
Lesson 5: In the Courtroom: Understanding the Players and the Action
Young lawyers put Goldilocks on trial as they develop an understanding of the legal system in the final instructional activity of this five-part series. After learning about key terms relating to litigation, learners are assigned roles...
Teaching Civics
Legal Ways: Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile
An amazing set of resources! Found here are several lessons that work in conjunction to help learners better understand the juvenile court system. Learners review the judicial process, discuss how juveniles are tried, and hold a class...
BBC
Crime
Crime and punishment! Learners discuss the law, civics, and crime in the UK. They brainstorm lists of crimes and possible punishments, complete activities on a website, role-play a Juvenile Court scenario, and try to think of ways they...
Curated OER
Justice
Young scholars discuss strengths and weaknesses of the court system in providing equal justice for all. They identify factors that cause these weaknesses and recommend solutions.
Curated OER
Meting Out Justice
Students investigate the murder case of Emmett Till and identify the missing pieces from the case. Through research, they then work to fill in the gaps to create a basis for examining how justice might be served anew in this...
Curated OER
Trying Teens
Students explore the court cases and legal organizations that were instrumental in creating a system of juvenile justice in the United States, then present their findings in a composite timeline.
Curated OER
Mini-Mock Trial
Students read through accounts of a teenage boy's use of a personal watercraft vehicle. They discuss the presented evidence and consider the varying details of the defendant, plaintiff and witnesses. They come to an agreement and state a...
Curated OER
Rules and Laws
Students investigate the difference between rules and laws. In this justice system lesson, students discuss the presence of rules of their lives and compare them the "Code of the West."
Curated OER
Law in the Future
Students develop a legal system. In this justice system lesson, students examine case law in the Untied States and draw on that experience to create a legal system for a "moon colony" which integrates the legal systems on Earth.
Curated OER
Living to Avoid The Criminal Justice System
Students brainstorm a list of negative stereotypes in the African-American society. In groups, they develop ways to decrease the chance of them living in poverty and being in trouble with the law. They develop ways to solve problems...
Curated OER
Mediation/Conciliation
Twelfth graders discuss the court system in Japan, and assume roles of family members and friends of air crash victims. They discuss whether they would file suit against airlines, compare methods of achieving justice in United States and...
Curated OER
Juvenile Justice - Consequences Of Offenses To Offenders, Victims, And Community
Students learn of the consequences of juvenile crime and how the state of Washington includes victims in the juvenile justice process.
Curated OER
American Justice: Juvenile Justice
Pupils watch a video that focuses on the alarming rise of violent crimes committed by juveniles. They see how the American justice system dealsl with these youthful offenders. They examine racial imbalance and color-blind justice.
Curated OER
Justice at the Local Level: Is it Effective?
High schoolers view a PowerPoint presentation on the court system. They are arranged into groups and evaluate the effectiveness of the criminal and civil courts in local Michigan communities.
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.
National Archives (UK)
National Archives Learning Curve: Crime and Punishment: Punishment Before 1450
What were the purposes of punishments given by courts in the Middle Ages? This question is reviewed in this Learning Curve challenge. Students are given primary evidence and two case studies - Medieval punishments and Capital punishments...
BBC
Bbc Newsround: Cameras Allowed to Film in Court of Appeal
Article reports that cameras are going to be allowed in one of the highest courts in England and Wales. Includes information about the history leading up to the decision.
Open Door Team
Open Door Web Site: White Man's Burden
Describes the results of colonization, focusing on the lack of economic profit and more on the civil/social motivations and results. Also contains Rudyard Kipling's commentary on colonization as expressed in his poem "White Man's Burden."