Interpreting the Law Simulation Activity Kit
$5.50
If your students have ever asked how our Constitutional rights are defined, this simulation lets them play judge and jury in making that decision!
Your Judicial Branch or Civil Liberties unit isn’t complete without this fun and powerful collaborative simulation on how judges interpret laws.
Description
You’re a judge in the lovely town of Tranquilville, which just passed a city ordinance prohibiting vehicle traffic on busy Main Street to support more pedestrian traffic.
Several citations have already been issued, and your docket is now full of cases.
Does Gabriel’s motorized wheelchair violate the law? What about Mateo’s delivery truck? Or Layla’s e-bike? You be the judge!
This simulation requires students to
- Balance individual rights with the common good
- Examine the letter of the law with its intent
- Arrive at justified, clarified conclusions
Included in this Interpreting the Law Simulation activity kit:
- Teacher Overview with detailed lesson plans from start to finish and a list of lesson options for how to use the materials to best suit your class
- Graphic Organizer for students to consider the individual rights and common good issues involved as well the intentions and context of a law to prepare for the simulation
- 7 Scenario Case Stations for students to circulate through, analyzing the details of each case and decide if they violated the law, with accompanying packet to record their decision and justification
- 4 Additional Scenario Laws & Presentation Slide Outline for students to further practice their critical thinking skills with a new law and plan out their presentation on their conclusions
- Presentation Starter Slides for students to build out their presentation on one of the additional included scenario laws (Google Slides file that can be easily downloaded to PowerPoint if needed)
This resource is 16 PDF pages, plus Google files.
What grades is this intended for?
This was designed for high school, but you may be able to use with higher level middle schoolers.
What supports are included? How can I modify this?
Short readings with visuals, graphic organizers to guide learning, outline steps for project component.
Google versions of student materials are editable to tailor for your students’ needs.
Can I use this in a homeschooling setting?
Sure! Everything in this kit can still be used in a solo or a small-group setting.
Is this editable? What file types does this resource come in?
The main resource is a secured, non-editable PDF file intended to be printed.
Included are links to editable Google files, to customize to your classroom needs and assign digitally if you choose.
What standards does this address?
Several! Standards vary, but this resource supports these from various states:
- Analyze the structures, functions, and processes of the judicial branch
- Examine the process used by judges to interpret or clarify the law, make a decision, and write a summary opinion
- Use critical thinking skills to make inferences and draw conclusions
What are the terms of use for this resource?
This resource, including all ancillary files, may be used as needed for regular, non-commercial single-classroom use between a teacher and their students.
This includes printing copies and sharing digital files with students through a secure platform, like Google Classroom or Canvas, email, or a classroom-only shared drive.
The using and sharing of any part of this resource in any manner outside the above-mentioned capacity is strictly prohibited. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to,
- posting files on the open internet or in a Facebook group
- emailing files to or sharing print copies with others (without purchasing additional licenses)
- uploading or storing files in a shared cloud drive accessible by anyone other than students
- including any part, or any derivative work, within any commercial endeavor like curriculum development, professional training, or for-profit teaching like Outschool, or selling this resource as your own in either print or digital formats
Doing so violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), copyright law, and these terms.
By downloading this resource from Let’s Cultivate Greatness, the original user has been granted one license for a single teacher (or number of teachers matching the number of licenses purchased) and their students at any one time.
Let’s Cultivate Greatness retains the full copyright of this resource.
