Classroom Law Project

November 19, 2021November 22, 2021

Class 13: Ideas for Civic Education

Overview

This class will showcase some resources in Civic Education – they’re grouped in three broad categories – law-related ed, civics / government, and information literacy.

Law-Related Education

I’m a big fan of using mock trials – they embody critical thinking in the classroom. The need to develop and deliver a theory of the case, reminds me of constructing a coherent historical narrative. And the use of rules of evidence parallels the mastery of historical thinking skills like sourcing, contextualizing and corroboration.

Over the years I wrote a number of cases which proved to be effective tools for improving student analytic skills. Here’s a few posts from my personal blog on using them in the classroom and a link to two mock trials and an appeals case that I developed. Teachers can also use the mock trial format to teach historical people and events. The format fosters a critical examination of historical content. For ideas, see Using Classroom Mock Trials to Encourage Critical Thinking in Social Studies.

Here in Oregon, we have a state-wide organization that supports law-related education: the Classroom Law Project. It provides resources for law-related education.

As an in class activity, students will take part in brief mock trial. See resources

Vickers v Hearst (443kb pdf)
Mock Trial Quick Guide (47kb pdf)

Civics and Government

History instruction intersects with civics and government in many ways. Great free resources and teaching ideas can be found here:

Zinn Education Project: promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history in middle and high school classrooms across the country.
iCivics: free lesson plans and games for learning civics
Center for Civic Education: high-quality civic and constitutional education for all

Information Literacy

With the rise of social media and the decline of legacy news sources, students must be learn to critically evaluate news sources to be functioning citizens. Great resources are available at:

Civics Online Reasoning (Stanford History Education Group): free lessons and assessments that help you teach students to evaluate online information that affects them, their communities, and the world.
News Literacy Project: programs and resources for educators and the public to teach, learn and share the abilities needed to be smart, active consumers of news and information and equal and engaged participants in a democracy.
National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE): aims to make media literacy highly valued and widely practiced as an essential life skill.

Assignment: Final Project Due Nov 28th: More info

November 14, 2015November 21, 2015

Class 12: Mock Trials

Mug shot of Hazel McGuinness, Sydney Australia, 1929

I’m a big fan of using mock trials – they embody critical thinking in the classroom. Over the years I wrote a number of cases which proved to be effective tools for improving student analytic skills and Common Core skills. Here’s a few posts from my blog on using them in the classroom and a link to two mock trials and an appeals case that I developed.

This week we will be visited by Ms. Barbara Rost, program director, Classroom Law Project. She’ll provide resources for law related education. (Be sure to follow that link – loads of lesson plans!)

As a demonstration activity, she will guide us through a mock trial –Vickers v Hearst (443kb PDF) Rules of evidence here.

Barbara graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Portland State University after using the 11-year plan to earn her degree, something she does not advocate for others. Three years later she earned her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School. She enjoys combining her interests in law and education in her work at Classroom Law Project. She is married, has two daughters in college and a really cute dog.

Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing civics, government and law to Oregon classrooms K-12. Teachers and students know CLP through programs such as mock trial, con team, Law Day conference (for students), Civics Conference for Teachers, court tours, weekly current events, professional development and more. CLP makes civic education fun. Its mission statement: Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.

Assignment: Continue research / design for DBL (iBooks Author lab work on 11/23)

Workflow? See this guide Getting Ready for iBooks Author 57KB pdf

Image credit: Mug shot of Hazel McGuinness, Central Police Station, Sydney, 26 July 1929 NSW Police Forensic Photography Archive, Justice and Police Museum, Sydney Living Museums

November 7, 2014

Class 11: Using Mock Trials in the Classroom

As a demonstration activity, she will guide us through a mock trial –Vickers v Hearst (443kb PDF) Rules of evidence here.

Image credit: George Coulson / Mug Shot / 1930s
This image is part of the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museum’s set “Newcastle upon Tyne criminals of the 1930’s.” Accession no. DX1190

This mug shot comes from a police identification book believed to be from the 1930s. It was originally found in a junk shop by a member of the public and subsequently donated to Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. No information is available to confirm which police force compiled it but evidence suggests it’s from the Newcastle upon Tyne area.

November 7, 2013

Class 11: Mock Trials in the Classroom

I’m a big fan of using mock trials – they embody critical thinking in the classroom. Over the years I wrote a number of cases which proved to be effective tools for improving student analytic skills and Common Core skills. Here’s two posts from my blog on using them in the classroom. And here’s a link to two mock trials and an appeals case that I developed.

This week we will be visited by Ms. Barbara Rost, program director, Classroom Law Project. She will guide us through a mock trial – The People Vs Carter (2.4mb PDF) – and provide resources for law related education. (Be sure to follow that link – loads of lesson plans!)

Image credit: John Dodgson / Mug Shot / 1930s