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Jury Trials in Classroom by Betty See β€” book cover

Jury Trials in Classroom

by Betty See
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Overview

Transform your classroom into a courtroom and get ready for students to take part in a great learning adventure. The six trial simulations in this book let students delve into criminal and civil law with motivating cases that mirror situations in fairy tales, nursery rhymes, literature, and history. In the roles of attorneys, members of the jury, defendants, witnesses, and courtroom personnel, students prepare and conduct cases. They will learn to use statements of fact and witness affidavits to determine guilt or innocence.

The book is divided into three sections that:

  • define the types of courts in the U.S. court system;
  • explain how to carry out a mock trial; and
  • give six ready-to-use court cases, including all necessary documents.
The court cases allow students to understand both criminal and civil trials, with three types of each case. The cases allow you to stage trials involving Hansel and Gretel, John Wilkes Booth, Little Miss Muffet, Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Jill, and Little Red Riding Hood.

Don't miss this opportunity to teach critical thinking and teach students how to weigh opposing points of view. The exciting results will motivate students to exercise their reasoning skills, polish their communication skills, and apply knowledge of the legal system. This will become one of your favorite classroom adventures.

For more judicial activities, see Step into the Courtroom and On Trial.

About the Author, Betty See

Betty M. See returned to college after the youngest of her four children entered kindergarten. She earned her bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in reading. She has had a varied teaching career. She taught seventh and eighth grade language arts, was a middle school classroom teacher, teaching all subject areas, and for 10 years worked with gifted students in grades 3-8 in Little Falls, NJ.

At each of these levels, she often used simulation activities to help students become involved in the learning process. In 1992, she received an A+ for Kids Teacher Network Award for a simulation activity, Celebrating Our Heritage.

Mock trials were among the favorite activities of her students, gifted and others alike. Finding little prepared material suitable for her students, she wrote trials using characters familiar to the students. These trials were the basis for her successful first book, Jury Trials in the Classroom. Her second book, Electing the President, started as a simulation to help students understand the election process when See taught fourth-grade social studies. Later she adapted it for gifted students into a schoolwide project for an actual presidential election. Her students proportionally allocated electoral votes to different classes and tabulated both popular and electoral results. Responses from classroom teachers were positive, stating that this simulation helped students understand the electoral college concept and how the president was elected. Her most recent book, More Jury Trials in the Classroom was published in 2007. As with the first book, she has created trials in which the participants are familiar. As before, there also is an added an element of humor to further pique the interest of the students.

See has retired from the classroom, but has never given up her love of teaching and writing. She and her husband, Bob, retired to Florida and live at the Leeward Air Ranch, where he flies his Piper Archer, and she is editor of the community newsletter. In addition to editing, she regularly submits humorous columns about aviation and life in general.

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Editorials

Booknews

This text first describes the use of mock trials as a tool to clarify how the US court systems work. It then offers detailed instructions on organizing six trials, both criminal and civil, based on familiar literary or historical characters. Includes sample court documents, direct and cross examination questions, and a glossary. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Book Details

Published
June 1, 2005
Publisher
Prufrock Press
Pages
160
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781593630850

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