Step Into the Courtroom

By the time students reach intermediate grades they are aware of the fact that their lives are full of rules, conflicts, and the various ways that differences are settled. They see these things played out each day in the classroom, their homes, and on television. This book takes the mystery out of the legal system in America. It deals primarily with how laws are applied in the whole of society, how laws are interpreted, and how justice is carried out in our courts of law.

You and your class are only 11 lessons away from understanding our legal system. Through group lessons and worksheets, students will learn about laws, courts, witnesses, criminal and civil cases, juries, jury duty, and verdicts. Using three hypothetical cases, they will learn to examine the law and write persuasive arguments and closing statements. This complete unit will give students a basic knowledge of our court system, providing a background for courtroom simulations or for being a juror in their adult lives.

For more judicial activities, see Jury Trials in the Classroom and On Trial.