Justice Teaching Lessons - Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL

Original Justice Teaching Lessons

The Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning provides a variety of lessons and activities to use in the classroom as part of your partnership. The original materials from the Florida Supreme Court website can be found under this tab. These were created by multiple authors for the original program. A second page of newer materials are under the Featured Lessons tab. These materials are divided by grade level.

Review each lesson carefully and all associated handouts, PowerPoint slides, and other resources. Some content may need to be updated depending on the date the materials were produced or submitted. Remember, to review the lessons carefully and discuss 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 in any way. Be neutral in your presentations and help students build confidence in their own critical thinking skills.

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

Short Takes Lessons

Judicial Bingo

Answer as many questions as you can individually without the use of outside resources. Then discuss as a small group to complete the full sheet. Debrief as a large group or full class.

PDF

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?

Middle and High School Lessons

Bullies: Who Bullies Are, What Bullying Is, and How We Stop It

This activity teaches students what types of conduct constitute bullying under Florida law. Tools for addressing bullying conduct in school, and the long term consequences of bullying, are also presented.

PDF Bullies: Who Bullies Are, What Bullying Is, and How We Stop It

PowerPoint Bullies: Who Bullies Are, What Bullying Is, and How We Stop It

School District Policies on Bullying

Florida's Constitutional Scavenger Hunt

This activity will help participants become familiar with the Florida Constitution and corresponding provisions for the state courts system.

Florida's Constitutional Scavenger Hunt Middle and High School

Invaders Activity

Version 1 (shorter)- Can be completed in one class period. Version 2 (longer)- Requires at least 90 minutes. The Invaders Activity is designed to introduce students to the rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

Invaders Activity Middle and High School

PowerPoint Version 1 Middle and High School

PowerPoint Version 2 Middle and High School

Judicial Discipline & Accountability

(High School Only)

Providing effective remedies for judicial misconduct helps preserve judicial independence and maintain trust and confidence in the integrity of the courts. This lesson will introduce participants to judicial misconduct and how state court judges are subject to disciplinary action.

PDF Judicial Discipline & Accountability

Justice By The People

(Grades 5 - 8) - from Scholastic

Make Your Case Game Overview

Overview of the Unit Plan

Play the "Make Your Case" Game

No Animals Allowed On School Grounds

This activity allow students to discuss how rules and laws are written and interpreted.

PDF No Animals Allowed On School Grounds

PowerPoint No Animals on Campus Middle School and High School

Quiz Show: So You Want to be as Smart as a State Court Judge?

This activity is designed for middle school students and is based on the popular quiz show "Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" Questions pertain to the Florida Constitution, the US Constitution, Constitutional Rights, Supreme Court Justices, Branches of Government, Qualifications of Judges, Amendments, Judicial Behavior, Jury Duty and the Courts.

PowerPoint Quiz Show So You Want to be as Smart as a State Court Judge?

Quiz Show: The Florida Courts and the Constitution Scavenger Hunt

This game show format provides a stimulating environment that will familiarize participants with the the Florida Constitution, the judicial branch, supreme court justices, judicial duties, the courts and more.

PDF for the florida courts and constitution scavenger hunt

PowerPoint for the florida courts and constitution scavenger hunt

Quiz Show: You and the Law

This activity is designed to be used with the Legal Guide for New Adults brochure distributed by The Florida Bar. The quiz show game format provides a stimulating environment for introducing legal content and encouraging further research on law-related topics.

PDF You and the Law

PowerPoint Quiz Show You and the Law

State of Nature

This activity will give students the opportunity to develop their own form of government and how it will operate as well as the rights they will have in this new country. Handout describes various types of government.

State of Nature Handout Middle and High School

The Truth About Bullies

This activity teaches students about the characteristics of bullies. Tools for addressing bullying conduct in school are also presented.

PDF The Truth About Bullies

PowerPoint The Truth About Bullies

U.S. Constitutional Scavenger Hunt

This activity will help participants become familiar with the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. Constitutional Scavenger Hunt Middle and High School

Answer Key U.S. Constitutional Scavenger Hunt Middle and High School

Yertle the Turtle Middle School and High School

This activity asks students to creatively explore concepts that are related to the purpose of government and the importance of restrictions on power. The lesson plan is best suited for middle school students.

PDF Yertle the Turtle Middle School and High School