Justice Teaching Center K-12 Featured Lessons

The Justice Teaching Center provides a variety of lessons and activities to use in the classroom as part of your partnership. The materials are posted by grade level. These are a sampling of featured lessons and we have a larger collection of lessons you can request depending on the topic or benchmark you are presenting.

Contact apitts@flsouthern.edu to request a specific topic.

Review each lesson carefully and all associated handouts, PowerPoint slides, and other resources. Remember, to discuss the lesson carefully with the teacher so he/she can approve the content and strategies. It is important to be engaging with the students. Walk around the room and be friendly and conversational with all grade levels. Ask questions and have small group interactions, depending on the exercise.

Remember, it is critical not to bring partisan influences or biases into the classroom. This is a standards-based, nonpartisan partnership. Be engaging in your presentations and help students build confidence in their own critical thinking skills.

In 2023-2024, new state standards in civics and government will be implemented in Florida K-12 classrooms. Here is a link to the new standards for your review. We will be aligning all materials with these new standards over the summer.

https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/15223/urlt/Rev-CivicsGovernStandards.pdf

For information or further instructions on how to implement any specific activity, please contact apitts@flsouthern.edu.

Judicial Bingo

Answer as many questions on the sheet as you can individually. Then, at your table, discuss with others the topics which appear in each box.

PDF Judicial Bingo

Where Do You Stand?

Teaching about current events provides opportunities for students to practice critical thinking, persuasive speaking, and listening skills.

PDF Where do you stand?

Rules, Rules, Rules

This elementary lesson should be implemented at the beginning of the academic year to establish the importance of rules in a classroom environment as well as in our governmental system. A game format is utilized to allow students to learn about the importance of rules in an engaging way.

PDF Rules, Rules, Rules

Elementary Road Map

What may happen if we didn’t have any rules or laws? This activity will help elementary students explore the three branches of government.

PowerPoint Elementary Road Map

Are Animals Allowed?

How are rules like laws? In this exercise, students will explore a hypothetical rule and determine its meaning. Students will be presented with a variety of scenarios to determine if the rule has been violated. Students will discuss the purpose of the rule and if they would recommend any changes.

PowerPoint Are Animals Allowed?

Civics Match Up Lesson

In this activity, students will be introduced to questions on the naturalization test for prospective U.S. citizens through an engaging matching game.

Match Up Activity Overview

Civics Cards

FL Courts Scavenger Hunt

The Florida Legislature website defines the Florida Constitution as an organized system of fundamental principles for the government of the state. It is of a permanent and general nature and originates from the people rather than from the Legislature.

PowerPoint FL Courts Scavenger Hunt

Quoting the Case

Analyze the significance and outcomes of landmark Supreme Court.

Answer Key Quoting the Case

PowerPoint Quoting the Case

September 17 is Constitution Day. This day commemorates the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution.

Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year is required to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution for its students. This posting is intended to remind affected educational institutions of this responsibility and to provide resources to use in developing their program.

The U.S. Department of Education does not mandate or prescribe particular curricula or lesson plans. The Justice Teaching Center provides a variety of resources for use in recognition of this special time. This information is provided for your convenience and as examples of resources on Constitution Day that you might find helpful.

This commemoration had its origin in 1940, when Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing and requesting the President to issue annually a proclamation setting aside the third Sunday in May for the public recognition of all who had attained the status of American citizenship.  The designation for this day was “I Am An American Day.”

In 1952, Congress repealed this joint resolution and passed a new law moving the date to September 17 to commemorate “the formation and signing, on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution of the United States.” The day was still designated as “Citizenship Day” and retained its original purpose of recognizing all those who had attained American citizenship. This law urged civil and educational authorities of states, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the State and locality in which they reside.”

In 2004 under Senator Byrd's urging, Congress changed the designation of this day to "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day" and added two new requirements in the commemoration of this Day.

  • The first is that the head of every federal agency provide each employee with educational and training materials concerning the Constitution on September 17th.
  • The second is that each educational institution, which receives Federal funding, should hold a program for students every September 17th.

Constitution Day/Week is the perfect time to visit K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and other public forums to expand public knowledge and understanding of the United States Constitution. We have a variety of standards-based, nonpartisan resources to help with your school-based partnerships and presentations.

For additional details, contact Annette Pitts at apitts@flsouthern.edu.