LESSON: Individual Rights - Freedom of Speech at School

Yousef Arefi-Afshar Street Law 2007 Model Lesson Plan

LESSON: Mock Trial Preparation – Steps in a Trial SOURCE: Trial facts adapted from Street Law Text (6th Ed.) p.50 “The Case of…Taking a Car by Mistake”; Quiz adapted from Street Law Mock Trial Manual MATERIALS: (1) This lesson plan; (2) Steps in a Trial PowerPoint presentation; (3) Steps in a Trial Overview Handout; and (4) Steps in a Trial Worksheet and Answer Sheet TIME: 50 Minutes

I. GOALS: Understanding the steps in a trial; A. Helps students understand the roles of the various participants of a trial B. Educates students on the rationale/policy behind the sequencing of trials C. Demystifies the trial process

II. OBJECTIVES: A. Knowledge Objectives – As a result of this class, students will: 1. Understand the who, what, when, where, and why’s of a trial; 2. Identify particular roles to which they feel they are best suited for the mock trial 3. Understand how the concepts of fairness and authority play a role in the judicial process B. Skills Objective – As a result of this class, students will be better able to: 1. Perform their mock trial in a very similar manner to that of a real trial 2. Speak in front of a group C. Attitude Objectives – Students will be better able to feel that: 1. They understand the legal mechanism though which criminal and certain civil disputes are resolved. 2. They can work cooperatively with their peers 3. Gain confidence in their ability to act professionally

III. CLASSROOM METHODS A. Introduction [2 minutes]: Explain to students that in preparation for our mock trial we will be going over the steps in a trial so they better understand the large task before them. Today’s class will include: (1) a brainstorm session to determine the baseline of trial knowledge in the class, (2) a mini-mock-trial presented by their classmates, and (3) completing a worksheet at the end of class to check their understanding of what they should have learned during the period. B. PowerPoint Presentation: 1. Slide 1: Title Slide 2. Slide 2: Judge Quiz Icebreaker: [2 minutes] . Answers: Sandra Day O’Connor; Clarence Thomas; Judge Wapner; Thurgood Marshal; Judge Dredd; Judge Judy 3. Slide 3: Brainstorming Session: [17 minutes] a. Have students clear their desks, except for a piece of paper and writing utensil. b. Divide the students into groups of four or five [2 minutes] c. Instruct the students to first brainstorm as many possible steps in a trial as they can think of and write them down. [6 minutes] d. Instruct them to now rewrite these steps in the order in which they occur in a trial. [4 minutes] e. Ask group 1 for the 1st step in a trial, group 2 for 2nd, etc… [5 minutes] f. Use attached handout to ensure at least all of those steps have been addressed (but don’t hand it out yet!)…if the students have more that is great! 4. Slides 4-5: Dude, Where’s My Car? – Stolen Car Mini-Trial [15 Minutes] a. Handout: Provide each student with the Steps in a Trial Overview Handout and Steps in a Trial Worksheet [1 minute] b. Have teaching partner pull nine (9) students into hallway: Judge, Jury Foreman, two (2) Jurors, Bailiff, Defendant, Defense Counsel, Prosecutor, and Owner of Vehicle. [3 minutes] . Explain to these students they will be performing a mini-trial and provide them each with a script (attached) with their specific lines/role highlighted. c. Meanwhile, have remaining students read aloud the facts of the case on the slide. [same 3 minutes as II.A.3.a] d. Mini-Trial: Have students perform mini-trial [3 minutes] . While students are performing have those not participating check off each of the steps on their handout. e. Debrief: Return everyone to seats and solicit questions regarding the trial they just saw. [5 minutes] 5. Slide 6: Dude, Can Joe Appeal? [4 minutes] a. Explain that auto theft requires that the accused person must have INTENDED to steal the car and ask if anyone remembers the judge’s instructions to the jury (If you find beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Harper was caught driving a car that wasn’t his, then you must find him guilty of auto theft.) . Explore issue of intent by asking: 1. Did Joe intend to steal the car? 2. Does it matter that Joe intended to drive a 1990 blue mini-van out of the parking lot? b. Explain that this verdict could be reversed on the grounds that the judge gave the jury the wrong instructions. 6. Slide 7: This slide is just a prompt to have the students complete the worksheet in the remaining class time C. Steps in a Trial Worksheet: [9 minutes] 1. Have students clear desk of everything BUT a writing utensil and the worksheet they were handed earlier…they may NOT use the Steps in a Trial Overview Handout to aid them in completing the worksheet 2. Collect worksheet as students leave the class.

IV. EVALUATION A. Student participation in brainstorming activity B. Student participation in mini-trial C. Accurate completion of Steps in a Trial Worksheet

V. ASSIGNMENT A. Have students read Mock Trial Case Packet and write a 1 paragraph summary of the mock trial. B. Have students begin to consider which side they would prefer to be on and what roles they might consider playing.