Civic Education Resources from the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court created the Commission on Judicial Independence to foster a greater public understanding about the role of the judiciary and explain the essential need of an independent judiciary in America. As part of those efforts, a website was created as a resource for teachers, students and the public to learn more about the work, role and structure of the state’s courts.
iCivics
iCivics is a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. iCivics is the vision of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is concerned that students are not getting the information and tools they need for civic participation, and that civics teachers need better materials and support.
FantasySCOTUS - Supreme Court of the United States
FantasySCOTUS is a Supreme Court fantasy league in which players predict current case outcomes, and it is already a wild hit with law students, attorneys, and judicial chambers across the country. In the high school edition, Harlan selects cases of special interest to students. The students learn about fundamental legal principles, make predictions about these cases, compete and collaborate with other classes nationwide, and write analytical blog posts about them. The site is free for all teachers and students to use, and can be used as a classroom exercise, or in extra-curricular clubs like debate teams or Junior Statesmen of America clubs. FantasySCOTUS is effective for pedagogical purposes because it is real and relevant. Rather than focusing entirely on cases from the past, as all textbooks do, students address current cases that they read about in the news. The study of law is routinely presented as dry, dull, and irrelevant to most people; FantasySCOTUS elaborates on current cases which have immediate impacts on people's lives.
The Harlan Institute
The Harlan Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school teachers educate students about the United States Constitution and our legal system. The Harlan Institute's mission is to bring about a stylized law school experience into the high school classroom to ensure that our next generation of leaders have a proper understanding of our most fundamental laws. By utilizing the expertise of leading legal scholars and the interactivity of online games, Harlan will help teachers introduce students to the Constitution, the cases of the United States Supreme Court, and our system of justice. Visit The Harlan Institute's website (www.harlaninstitute.org) to register your classroom and access free lesson plans on current Supreme Court cases, as well as interactive forums and chat rooms. While visiting the site, teachers may also contact staff at Harlan to discuss the program in more detail and how it can supplement their teaching plans.
Annenberg Classroom
Annenberg Classroom offers a wide array of educational resources under a single umbrella. Educators can find curricula, lesson plans, multimedia programs, and other teaching materials all indexed and in conformance with the educational standards of their state. Search by keyword, by subject area, or by state standard to find one of the richest sets of teaching aids available in a single location.
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952 - 2008
This is a great resource for teachers! The site has presidential election campaign commercials from 1952-2008 and includes lesson plans.
Children's Literature with Social Studies Themes
The Delaware Center for Teacher Education, Delaware Social Studies Education Project at the University of Delaware has developed an excellent web resourceillustrating how children's books can be used to teach social studies themes. Books are listed for grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-6 in the categories of History, Geography, Economics and Civics. Civics books are further categorized into Government, Rules and Laws, Values and Principles, Citizen's Rights and Privileges and Participation in Civic Life.
"Proud to Be an American" coloring page with ethnically diverse kids http://www.abcteach.com/USA/unit/proudcolor.htm
Orb and Effy Learn about Authority (Elementary level)
A complete lesson on authority from the Orb and Effy Learn about Authority book. In this lesson, young children learn that when people have a right to tell others what to do in certain situations, they are exercising authority. When they do not have that right, they are exercising power without authority. Children learn some ways in which people earn the right to exercise authority. The lesson also illustrates problems that are likely to arise in the absence of effective authority. Children learn how and why authority is useful.
http://www.courts.wa.gov/education/
Washington State Courts Educational Resources Page includes information about the state mock trial program, judges in the classroom lesson plans from elementary through high school, We the People, and much more.
http://www.peterpappas.com/journals/trial/whitmore.pdf
A fictional Mock Trial case for high school students. This case examines the rights of a student who appeals his expulsion for a variety of violations of dress and hair codes. A federal district court and an appeal court each rule on opposite sides of the case. Students now have an opportunity to argue before the Supreme Court. Written by Jay Postel.
Law for Kids
http://www.lawforkids.org/
Blogs
Constitution Daily
News stories. Videos. Online games. Lesson plans and activities. The National Constitution Center's new daily blog is dedicated to providing you with resources that will connect your students to current events and the Constitution. From celebrating civic holidays to current legislation and the latest government news, the Civic Learning Blog provides resources that can help you effectively teach current events with a constitutional connection the next time you enter the classroom.
A Career in Law
Life as a Lawyer: It's Not What You See on TV… It's Much More!
This four-page student handout from the Pennsylvania Bar Association talks about what it's really like to be a lawyer or judge, how to become a lawyer or judge, how to prepare for law school and what happens in law school, other legal career options to consider, and places to go for more information.
Preparing for a Career in Law in the 21st Century
by Bryan K. Fair, Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law, The University of Alabama School of Law
What are my Rights?
High School 9 - 12
Time: Three 1-hour sessions
Author: Leslie Harper Blatteau New Haven, Connecticut
Studying the Constitution can seem less than vital to students who are most interested in issues that directly affect them. This lesson engages students in a study of the First Amendment by using it to explore youth curfews, demonstrating the impact that the law can have on their everyday lives. Using the text of the First Amendment as a starting point, students discuss whether youth curfews are constitutional. They then use a case study to closely examine both sides of the issue, debate the issue with their peers, hypothesize about the possibility of a youth curfew in their own community, and create a blog about the issue.
What Responsibilities Accompany Our Rights?
Teacher's version pdf
Student version pdf
Effectively Using Judges and Lawyers as Community Resources in Your Classroom: A Guide for Teachers pdf