Lesson 1: The Value of Group Decision Making

This lesson is based on a game developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to demonstrate the value of group decision making. Students are asked to individually prioritize a list of items that might help them survive on the moon, and then again working in a group. Next, they compare their individual and group rankings with the expert rankings provided by NASA. This leads naturally to a discussion of the dynamics and value of group decision making. As an assessment activity, students write a letter suggesting that group decision making be used in designing a new school playground.

Lesson 2: History of Conflict Resolution and the Jury System

This lesson begins with a staged conflict between students. The teacher suggests resolving the dispute by a kind of "trial by ordeal" using jawbreaker candies and observing whether they stain the accused students' tongues. Students then explore other methods societies have used historically to resolve conflicts, such as trial by combat or trial by oath. As students analyze each method, they begin to appreciate how the jury system improves on earlier means of determining guilt and innocence. The lesson ends with a short video on the history of the right to trial by jury in the United States. In the assessment activity, students are presented with a scenario in which they are falsely accused of shoplifting. They must then choose a method of trial to resolve the accusation and justify their choice.

Lesson 3: Jury Selection

In the next three lessons, students participate in a mock trial in which Gold E. Locks is accused of trespassing by the Three Bears. The first lesson takes them through the jury selection process with the teacher acting as judge and students as prospective jurors. To keep things simple, jury selection in this case is not an adversarial process involving opposing attorneys. Instead, the judge questions jurors and makes the final selections. Students not chosen for the formal jury serve as alternatives or form a shadow jury. As an assessment activity, students play the role of newspaper reporters and interview two adults about their experiences with jury duty.

Lesson 4: The Trial of Gold E. Locks

In this lesson, a volunteer from the legal community visits the classroom to discuss how a trial works, the rules of evidence, and the role of attorneys, judge, and jury. The class then views a 15-minute video of the trial of Gold E. Locks. When objections are made, the video is stopped and students are asked to apply what they have learned about the rules of evidence. If a volunteer is not available, the teacher leads students through the trial process. As an assessment activity, students review the roles of attorneys, judges, and juries during a trial.

Lesson 5: Jury Deliberation

In the last lesson, the student juries deliberate and attempt to reach decisions on Gold E. Locks guilt or innocence. The announcement of verdicts leads to a class discussion on how each jury made its decision. In the assessment activity, students play the role of magazine journalists reporting on their experiences as jurors in the Gold E. Locks trial.

Culminating Activity: "MAKING YOUR CASE" CD-ROM

"Make Your Case" is designed to be used as a culminating activity with the "Justice by the People" curriculum. The game can be played by two players or teams of players and may take from 45 to 90 minutes to complete.

"Make Your Case" is based on a fictional civil case in which a bicyclist is suing a driver for damages that occurred when the two colided at an intersection. The bicyclist claims that the driver ws speeding and not paying attention to the road. The driver clains that the bicyclist ran a stop sign and failed to make herself visible. Players take on the role of either the plaintiff or the defense attorney as the case goes to trial.

When the game begins, students decide what pieces of evidence will be most helpful to include in their opening statements. As the trial proceeds, they choose what questions to ask witnesses and make objections whenever the rules of evidence are violated. An on-screen case file contains summaries of depositions and rules of evidence. The trial concludes with the delivery of a verdict and an opportunity for students to interview jurors.