Interactive
iCivics

I Civics: Court Quest

For Students 3rd - 8th
What a great way to learn about the different layers of the court system in the United States. This highly interactive game allows the player to be the guide in navigating through the various courts. By playing this game, the student...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "The Scottsboro Boys" by Jessica Mc Birney

For Students 7th - 8th Standards
A learning module that begins with the "The Scottsboro Boys" by Jessica McBirney, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Website
Other

Gouvernement Du Quebec: Justice Quebec: Judicial System

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explains the provincial court system of Quebec.
Activity
Other

National Council for the Social Studies: Selecting Supreme Court Justices

For Students 11th - 12th
A panel discusses the questions of whether the Senate or President hold more power in selecting Supreme Court Justices, the impact of interest groups on the process, and whether changes need to be made to the confirmation process. Along...
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Slaves and the Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860 contains just over a hundred pamphlets and books (published between 1772 and 1889) concerning the difficult and troubling experiences of African and African-American slaves in the American colonies and...
Handout
Other

Mac Arthur Foundation: Research Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection of research on adolescent development helps expand the base of knowledge about juvenile crime and delinquency, disseminate that knowledge to professionals and the public, improve decision making in the current system, and...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Supreme Court

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussion overview illustrating the structure and powers of the Supreme Court as written in the U.S. Constitution.
Lesson Plan
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Department of Criminal Justice [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An activity guide where students refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this lesson, they research Texas prisons to learn about the inmates there, their crimes and...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: Alcatraz Escapes: 14 Breakout Attempts From the Island Prison

For Students 9th - 10th
To ditch Alcatraz, the infamous federal penitentiary, inmates tried everything from papier-mache masks to a military impersonation to a bloody revolt. Over those three decades, the infamous prison known as "The Rock" housed more than...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: Was the Escape From Alcatraz Successful?

For Students 9th - 10th
A 2013 letter to the FBI, if real, suggests the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris survived one of the most daring and dangerous prison breaks of all time. It was one of the most ingenious prison breaks of all time -- if it worked. In...
Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: The Witchcraft Trials in Salem: A Commentary

For Students 9th - 10th
A concise yet detailed historical note about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, its participants, and background. Discusses the legal proceedings and explains changes which have occurred in the American justice system since then, with...
Website
Other

The Ministry of Justice: Argentina

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is provided by the Argentine Ministry of Justice. It contains an organizational chart, action plans, project updates and data services. It also includes a link to the Civil Services Union.
Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Journey Through Justice: Our Federal Courts

For Students 7th
In this tutorial, students learn about the various levels in the federal judicial system and look at a famous Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines.
Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: History of the Supreme Court

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives insight into both the creation of the U.S. Supreme Court as well as its transformation to its present state. Throughout the text links can be found which lead to various Supreme Court topics and information.
Website
Other

University System of Georgia: Civil Rights Digital Library

For Students 9th - 10th
Compilation of primary resources from broadcasters, museums, libraries, and other content repositories, constituting a scholarly collection of primary sources that document aspects of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s....
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Objectives for this instructional activity include describing the structure and function of the Supreme Court, looking at important decisions, and discussing recent rulings and issues.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: The Judicial Branch

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Students will learn about the federal and state courts and what they do. They will explore the courts' role in fairly settling disputes and administering justice, and the unique role of the U.S. Supreme Court in interpreting the U.S....
Website
US Department of Justice

Us Department of Justice: Justice 101: Federal Court System

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out what the three levels of the federal court system are and how they work.
Article
Cato Institute

Buying Justice: Plaintiffs' Lawyers Reap Huge Dividends

For Students 9th - 10th
This writer discusses the buying of justices' impartiality by trial lawyers and calls for tort reform.
Article
Other

New Talk: What Is the Role of the Courts in Making Social Policy?

For Students 9th - 10th
New Talk provides an online forum where non partisan experts in their field can discuss relevant domestic issues of today. This discussion focuses on the role of courts in setting social policy and how judges should be selected.
Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Changing Immigration Policy

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS site takes a look at the changing immigration policy since 9/11. Addresses issues such as the Patriot Act, problems with the immigration system, and attracting international students.
Interactive
iCivics

I Civics: Court Quest

For Students 9th - 10th
In Court Quest, people from around the country need your help to navigate our court system. Listen carefully to each case, so you can guide them to the right place!
Handout
Other

World Justice Project: What Is the Rule of Law?

For Students 9th - 10th
Derived from internationally accepted standards, the World Justice Project's definition of the rule of law is a system in which the following four universal principles are upheld by four universal principles. These four universal...
Article
PBS

Pbs Newshour Extra: Exonerated Prisoners Face Uphill Climb

For Students 9th - 10th
Video and article report on the struggles faced by people who have been found to have been wrongly convicted of crimes when they are finally released from prison. Includes critical thinking questions.