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Law Day 2013

LAW DAY 2013
"Realizing the Dream: Equality for All"

Law Day began in 1958 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed Law Day to strengthen our great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law. This year the Pennsylvania Bar Association is celebrating our 13th year of Law Day activities. The theme for Pennsylvania's 2013 celebration is the same as the American Bar Association's theme, "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All."

The Pennsylvania Bar Association and local bar associations across the state will sponsor Law Day activities throughout the month of May. In addition, schools, lawyers and judges are encouraged to work together to arrange for classroom visits and to use the PBA's free law-related lesson plan guide book in all schools. A copy of the lesson plan guide book is available as a PDF document for you to download.

Law Day 2013 Registration Form for County Bar Associations in Pennsylvania (Word) (PDF)

Why We Celebrate Law Day - Charles Rhyne, president of the American Bar Association in 1957, is credited with being the person who thought of the idea for Law Day-U.S.A. He said, "The thing we want people of the whole world to know is that in our country we are more proud of our moral principles as expressed in the concept of our government of laws than we are of any materialistic accomplishment or achievement of our people. It is the purpose of 'Law Day-U.S.A.' to highlight this basic fact - thereby throwing a spotlight upon the rule of law in America, expressing to the people of the world our admiration and respect for the rule of law as the key to individual freedom and justice." Read the text of Rhyne's original radio broadcast, delivered on the first Law Day, May 1, 1958.

Law Day Planning Guide from the American Bar Association - The ABA Law Day Planning Guide is available as a PDF file that can be viewed on a computer or printed, and as an iBook that can be viewed using and iPad. You can download them both on the American Bar Association's website.

2013 Law Day Word Searches
Word searches are a fun activity for students and something you can leave with them to complete and take home to share with their parents after your visit. You can go over the words with the students and ask them if they know what the words mean. This activity involves the students in the lesson instead of you lecturing to them about legal terms. Their responses create discussion opportunities in which you can clarify any misperceptions students have and you can ask questions to help them and their classmates think a bit more about their responses.
Guide to Using Word Searches in the Classroom
Elementary Level Word Search
Middle to High School Level Word Search

Talking with Young Students about Conflicts and Justice
Watch this three and a half minute video featuring Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as she visits with her friend Maria on Sesame Street and talks about her job as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. While visiting, she helps Baby Bear and Goldilocks peacefully resolve a dispute over Baby Bear's broken chair. This could be a great opening for a lesson with young students in grades K-3.

Applicable for Any Grade Level

Kindergarten through Second Grades (youth ages 5-7)
It's never too soon to start teaching about the law, however, with this age group the best advice is to keep the message simple and short. You should only try to "teach" or talk about one or two big concepts - like why are rules important, what does it mean to be responsible, etc. One of the best ways to do this is by reading a story and then asking questions to help students apply the information to their own lives. Young people this age will have lots of questions, energy and stories to tell you.

    Orb and Effy - Print this fun story developed by the Center for Civic Education and read it to the students. Sample questions are included - you don't have to cover everything in the lesson plan, the lesson was developed for classroom teachers to use for Constitution Day, but the story is a great start to engage students in a dialog about authority, leaders and rules any day of the year!
  • Reading List - Visit your local library or bookstore to select a favorite book from the list provided. Read it to the students and then talk about the theme. The books selected on the list all have themes related to the law and responsible citizenship.

Upper Elementary (Grades 3-6 or youth ages 8-11)

Courts

  • Case of the Missing Puppy - This scripted mock trial that teaches students about the civil trial process. The case takes about 50 minutes including an introduction and follow-up. It is recommended for third through sixth grades, due to the reading that is involved. This is a fun, interactive, positive learning experience. The case engages students and gives each student a role to play. Examples of things you might say to introduce the lesson are included. You serve as the judge - wear your robe and bring your gavel!

Laws and Decision-making

  • No Animals in the Library - This is a fun exercise that requires students to think about making decisions based on an unclear rule and then consider the consequences of their decisions. A sample introductory script is provided to give you some ideas on how you might talk with students about your job and tie in the "No Animals" lesson.

Middle to High School

Laws and Decision-making

  • No Vehicles in the Park - This lesson engages students and adults by asking them to think and decide on various hypotheticals. By doing this they begin to understand what goes into making a law, why laws are needed, the difficulty in making decisions based on an unclear law and then considering the consequences of their decisions on individual citizens and the community.

  • I Can't Wear What?
    In this lesson from the iCivics web site, students meet Ben Brewer and find out what happened the day he decided to wear his favorite band T-shirt to school in violation of a new dress code rule. Students read a summary of a Supreme Court case to figure out the "rule" that applies to Ben's problem. Everything you need to deliver this lesson, including step-by-step instructions, is provided by the iCivics team. Many other great lessons are provided on the iCivics website.

  • Why We Have/Need Rules and Laws - This exercise asks students to think about the need for laws using a hypothetical situation where there has been a natural disaster.

High School Seniors
Rights and Responsibilities

  • Stepping Out - The PBA "Stepping Out" program is designed to help graduating seniors make the often intimidating first step into adulthood by providing them with valuable information on such legal matters as renting an apartment, buying a car, driving under the influence, marriage and divorce. Judges can use the information in this booklet as a guide to talk with teens and young adults about the legal issues and responsibilities that will impact their lives.

Law Day 2013 Planning Schedule

February - May
2013   
Law Day 2012 K-College Lesson Plan Guide Available
May 1, 2013 Law Day
May 1-31, 2012 Schools, Judges & Lawyers Celebrate the Law

 

 

 

 

Please call the PBA at 800-932-0311, Ext. 2256, with any questions. You may also email your questions to [email protected].

Click here for information on 2012 and the PBA's previous years' Law Day celebrations.