Teaching Civics

This lesson from the LegalWays curriculum focuses on the procedure followed in a criminal case. In the activity “Creating a Flow Chart” the students can work individually or in small groups. It requires that the students use their knowledge from “Investigation and Arrest” and “Your Right to an Attorney” in addition to the information in this lesson. By asking them to add pieces of information they think are important, the students reflect on their learning. This lesson is designed for the computer. However, it can be accomplished with posterboard and markers. The “Mini-Mock Trial” concerns a stolen wallet and is a two-hour activity. This activity benefits greatly by having a lawyer or judge serve as the judge for the mock trial. (If there are enough students, one can assist the judge, serving as a co-judge.) Although this lesson uses Minnesota law and procedure, it is adaptable.

Freedom of religion has been a controversial, yet fundamental, tenet of the United States since even before the nation’s birth. In a instructional activity, the Read More

Students learn that American Indians have systems of tribal government that have powers, rights and responsibilities based on tribal constitutions agreed to by the people.

By Jennifer Bloom and Kate McBride Engage students in a Structured Academic Controversy in this lesson that focuses on developing deliberation skills using a proposed Read More

Engage students in a Structured Academic Controversy in this lesson that focuses on developing deliberation skills using the issue of ethanol (a critical question for Minnesota and the nation and world).

In this lesson from the LegalWays curriculum, certification(the process of moving a juvenile from juvenile court to adult court) is described, including presumptive and non-presumptive certification. The activity “You Decide” asks students to decide whether cases would be presumptive or non-presumptive and to identify the factors that would be considered in the certification process. The “Case Study” asks them to determine whether a juvenile should be certified and to explain the reasons for the decision. In the final “You Decide” activity the students analyze four cases and decide if the juvenile stays in juvenile court, becomes an EJJ, or is certified to adult court. The students are asked to provide their reasons. This activity requires that the other lessons in the unit be completed first. Although the lesson is based on Minnesota law and procedure, most states have similar processes. The lesson can be adapted to the law of other states.

In this lesson from the LegalWays curriculum the Steps in a Juvenile Delinquency case are described. This lesson enhances the lesson on the Juvenile Court in The Legal System unit. The student reading with guided questions and the “Ordering” activity help the students learn the procedure. The steps in the procedure can also be used in a “Human Continuum” activity. This lesson uses Minnesota law but can be adapted for other states.

The reasons the court will use in terminating a parent’s rights are described and the steps are laid out in this lesson from the LegalWays curriculum. The “Case Study” presents a story of a baby and her mom and asks the students to decide if parental rights should be terminated and identify alternative steps that might be taken. Additional cases are considered in the “Mock Appellate Argument” activity. To conclude the lesson, the students are engaged in a “Mock Legislative Hearing” concerning a bill making it easier to terminate parental rights.

This lesson from LegalWays describes domestic abuse and what can be done when a person is the victim of abuse. The procedure for getting an Order for Protection is included. The “Case Study” activity asks the students to apply their new knowledge to a hypothetical case. As a culminating activity, the students will apply their knowledge and learn more about the court system in the Mock Trial, which involves domestic abuse between a girlfriend and boyfriend. Lesson includes a student reading with guiding questions using Minnesota law. Lesson can be adapted.

This lesson from the LegalWays curriculum helps the students understand what will happen to them if they run away. The “Matching” activity asks them to match the terms with the definitions. The “Role-Play” activity has the students giving advice to young people contemplating running away. Although this activity reflects the procedures used in MInnesota, they are similar to procedures in other states and the student reading and guiding questions are easily adaptable.

Because of the importance of foster care in the lives of many young people, this lesson from the LegalWays curriculum looks at foster care from the perspective of a child in foster care, including a description of the specific rights that youth in foster care have. The Case Plan activity asks the students to analyze three cases looking at the reasons for the foster care, the attempts to correct the problems, the services that might help, and what needs to be done to return the child home. Lesson includes a student reading about the law including guiding questions. Although the lesson uses Minnesota law, it can be adapted.

This lesson from the LegalWays curriculum focuses on paternity, which is an important issue in the lives of teen parents. The reading about the law with the guiding questions and the Yes or No You Decide activity are designed to help the students understand the content of the law. The “Each One Teach One” is an effective way to teach and review the substance of the law in an interactive way. Although the reading reflects Minnesota law, the reading can be adapted easily.

This lesson presents the steps in juvenile protection and services cases. Materials include a student reading with related ordering activity. Lesson is targeted at young people at risk of being in the juvenile protection system. This activity uses Minnesota law but can be adapted for your state law.

By Jennifer Bloom and Sally Revak From Unit 1 of LegalWays, a curriculum designed to teach a variety of legal topics of interest to young Read More

By Jennifer Bloom and Sally Revak, Learning Law and Democracy Foundation From Unit 1 of LegalWays, a curriculum designed to teach a variety of legal Read More

This lesson aims to introduce students to the history of juvenile law in the United States, the differences between Juvenile and Criminal Law, and the different ways in which courts treat juvenile delinquency cases. The second day focuses on the Minnesota Juvenile Justice system. The lessons uses case studies of actual cases and student written reflections.

In this lesson, students will examine the constitutional conflicts of allowing or disallowing cameras in courtrooms. The importance of this issue will be emphasized through a discussion about media literacy. Students will participate in a “Shuttle Debate,” where they will argue whether the state of Minnesota, which currently does not allow cameras in courtrooms, should change its policy.