Alabama Department of Archives and History
New York Times Co. v Sullivan: The Alabama Case that Changed Libel Law
Malice aforethought? Can the New York Times be held libel for false claims appearing in its ads? The Supreme Court case New York Times v Sullivan changed the interpretation of the First Amendment. Class members examine these changes and...
Curated OER
Getting Help: Food Stamps and Nutrition Programs
Here is another lesson regarding the law. This time, the laws that dictate eligibility for food stamps is the focus. After an initial discussion about the basics of the laws, learners do a case study of a family who is applying for food...
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The Driveway Case
Students discover how courts determine property possession using evidence. For this critical analysis lesson, students use provided case studies and evidence to determine legal possession. This lesson would be suitable for group work and...
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Family Law - Child Abuse
Learners identify and examine children's protective rights provided by law, discuss difficulties of determining whether child is abused or neglected, identify types of child abuse and neglect, analyze hypothetical situations to determine...
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The Juvenile Death Penalty
Sensitive material is discussed in this lesson. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. The topic is the Eighth Amendment and how the U.S. Supreme Court makes determinations about what constitutes cruel and...
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Tort Law
Students study the concept of negligence. They recognize the difference between civil and criminal law and examine the factors that courts consider when considering if there is a duty and whether it has been breached. They argue either...
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Children and Family Law
Students examine children's rights and how laws can affect their education and daily life. Through the investigation of various cases, they assess how the best interests of children are either upheld or ignored and how the Constitution...
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Working for a Living: Child Labor Laws
Students research the working conditions in the late 1800's and the evolution of child labor laws. They discuss how the laws affect them today and if they are fair. They write a paper summarizing the laws and the view of the laws.
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Juvenile Justice-Disposition
Students explore the dispositional hearing as a part of the juvenile justice system. After a brief discussion of the parts of the disposition hearing, students work in groups to review case studies involving juveniles in Utah's justice...
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Racism, Discrimination, and the Law
Seventh graders examine the various racism and discrimination faced by various ethnic groups in the United States. In groups, they research the legal system and describe the purpose of the United States Constitution. They review cases...
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Family Law - Child Abuse and Neglect
Young scholars continue to examine child abuse and neglect laws in their state. In groups, they discuss the reasoning behind the child abuse laws and how to increase awareness. They participate in a mock trial to practice their...
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Brown v. Board of Education
Students examine school segregation and equal protection laws. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Brown v. Board of Education and discuss the implications of the decision.
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Would You Live Common Law?
Young scholars explore common law. In this sociology lesson, students discover what constitutes common law unions in Canada and then discuss how common law relationships compare to marriages.
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The Trial of Dred Scott
Students study the trial of Dred Scott. They investigate the New York Times reporter and simulate writing about the trial for a newspaper. They identify the 5Ws from the play using a graphic organizer and present their findings to the...
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Minority Teenage Fathers: Rights and Responsibilities
Pupils examine current laws and use problem solving activities designed to develop in students the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate situations they may/ be confronted with as potential teen-aged fathers.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Immigration Enforcement Raids
Class groups take on the role of advisors to the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Policy & Planning of ICE. Their charge is to prepare a report for the secretary on the effectiveness of enforcement actions of the ICE in stemming...
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China's 'One Child Policy'
Students use an extract from Beth Gilligan's Voices and Values: Citizenship in Asia (Curriculum Corporation, 1998, pp 29-30), together with other resources, as the basis for investigation and analysis of China's 'one child policy'.
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Mediation/Conciliation
Twelfth graders discuss the court system in Japan, and assume roles of family members and friends of air crash victims. They discuss whether they would file suit against airlines, compare methods of achieving justice in United States and...
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Data Defense
Students explore the meaning of privacy, and then defend contrasting positions in legal cases relating to electronic privacy rights.
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Rostislav & Julianna: A Modern-Day Interpretation of Romeo and Juliet
Students author and film their own adaptations of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In this multimedia skills lesson, students script a play that pits an Orthodox Christian family against a Muslim family. Students use GarageBand...
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Gov. Reubin Askew's Stand on Busing And Integration in Florida Schools
Young scholars research a straw vote placed on a Florida ballet in 1972 that asked if voters were in favor of prohibiting forced busing to further desegregation. They read primary documents, complete a worksheet and participate in class...
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Father's Figure
High schoolers examine the concept of paternity leave. In this current events lesson plan, students explore European policies regarding parenting today and compare it with philosophies of the past.