Bette Brooks
"No Irish Need Apply..."
Students describe conditions that led to massive immigration from Ireland in the 1840s, and compare response of native-born Americans to Irish immigration with responses to Mexican immigration today.
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YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN
Twelfth graders, in groups propose a new law and design a campaign to get people to vote for their law. They have a voter's forum and hold a mock election.
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Laws
Students discuss laws and their importance. They discuss silly or unique laws and explore the process that must be followed to make a law.
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Passport To Parliament
High schoolers examine the Canadian parliamentary system through the investigation of various learning centers that address the issues using a variety of learning preferences.
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Drunk Driving Legislative Session
High schoolers explore the consequences of drunk driving and analyze Washington's law on DUIs.
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Brown v. the Board of Education
Students explain the history of race discrimination in the US and about the Brown vs the Board of Education trial.
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Plea Bargaining
Learners explore plea bargaining and list the advantages and disadvantages of it.
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Rock the Vote
Students dramatize the process by which a bill becomes a law. They design a product that explains the function of the Legislative Branch in government and present their work to the class.
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Society Dominoes
Students are introduced to six victims of a crime. They role play characters in the scenario and discuss feelings as the scene unfolds. Through brainstorming and role playing strategies, they increase their understanding of the rights of...
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Enriching Students' Understanding of Criminal and Tort Law Using Technology
Students define criminal and tort law and explain how they are different.
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Rules and Laws of the Community
Second graders recognize and identify the need for rules in school. They also discuss the importance of safety rules at school, home, and in the community. They illustrate a rule which they have learned in class, and write letters to the...
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How an Idea Becomes a Law
Learners create posters that demonstrate the step-by-step process of how ideas become laws. They list the fourteen steps of a bill becoming a law, describe a presidential veto, and define override.
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Hammurabi's Code of Laws
Students explore why the need arose for laws to govern society, comparing and contrasting hunter/gatherer societies vs. agrarian societies. They write letters to the editor of the Babylonian Times, discussing their opinion of Hammurabi's...
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Private Matters
Students examine the intersection between an individual's right to privacy versus the public's right to know, through the lens of the relationship between public figure Gary Condit and missing intern Chandra Levy.
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Laws of Canada
Students research Canada's employment standards, and health and safety issues in the workplace. It serves as a vehicle to promote problem solving, thinking and group discussion skills.
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Handling Constituents
Learners explore ideas to share their ideas with constituents. In this lesson, students watch a presentation that shares ideas on how to help the government deal with challenges.
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Producing a Manifesto
Students explore manifestos. They discuss the significance of manifestos and consider how they may shape future policy and law. Students research a topic for a manifesto and create a manifesto dealing with the assigned topic. They...
National First Ladies' Library
"Lockwood for President!" Belva Ann, Who?
Students examine the life of Belva Ann Lockwood. They see her life through the creation of a set of "news" articles on her admission to practice law before the Supreme Court in 1879 and her nomination for the presidency in 1884.
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The Bill Of Rights And The News
Students investigate the concepts related to the Bill Of Rights. They conduct research using a variety of resources and focus upon the human rights provided in the legislation. Students read a news article and reflect the upon the...
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How Does Parliament Make Laws?
Learners are introduced to how Parliament makes laws. In groups, they play a game in which they identify the purpose of petitions. To end the lesson plan, they work together to create a new petition on an issue of importance to them and...
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The Journey of a Bill
Fifth graders discover how a bill becomes a law in America. After watching a video, they put the steps of a bill becoming a law into the correct order. They create their own bill that they believe needs to be passed out of construction...
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The Death Penalty -- Background and Quiz
Students participate in an activity about the death penalty. In groups, they research the history of corporal punishment and take notes on interesting facts. They identify and discuss the arguments for and against the use of it and...
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Family Law Opinion Poll
Students discuss their feelings related to family rights and the law. Using the internet, they research information to back up their opinions and examine counter-arguments. They take a survey to identify their feelings more in depth to...
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Introduction to Mediation
Students are introduced to the use of mediation in court cases. In groups, they identify the different scenerios that could mediation could be used and discuss other alternatives to a solution. They practice mediating various situations...