Judicial Fairness – Playground Bullies
Grade
K-6
6-9
Lesson Duration
Authors: Rich Rosiviach, Jude Hogeboam, and members of the Minnesota State Bar Association Civic Education Committee
Through a role-playing activity, students learn about judicial fairness and bias. A scenario involving a playground bully is the starting point. Students will portray a group of adults with opinions as to the punishment of the bully. The adults have different viewpoints that may impact their ability to make fair judgments in the case.
Objectives
- Students will discuss the idea of “fairness” and “fair” decision-making, and
- how the things judges say or their behavior in the past might affect both the judge’s ability to be fair
- and a person’s perception of the judge’s fairness
Source