Criminal & Social Justice Free Activities for High School

Judicial Decisions

Teachers hoping to devote several class periods to criminal and social justice activities should consider making the judicial decision-making process the center attraction. It is best for educators to pick one aspect of the law, such as the fourth amendment of the United States Constitution, and discuss it. After discussion, divide the class into groups of five and require each group to designate a Chief Justice as group speaker. Present a case that pertains to the law or amendment and request a verdict from each group. After ten or fifteen minutes, have each Chief Justice present group decisions to the class. In order to properly execute the activity, teachers should set aside ninety minutes or two class periods for the task.

Lessons on civil rights can involve the entire class. A lesson about Rosa Parks can begin with a discussion on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and end with the entire class portraying a scenario of the 1955 bus scene. Teachers can cast the small skit by choosing a student for the police officer and bus driver roles. A student should also be picked to portray Rosa Parks. Allowing students to reenact the event that initiated the Civil Rights Movement will give students a better understanding of the historical fight for equality.

Judicial misconduct scars the criminal justice system. Judges who misuse power or wrongly punish individuals must be held accountable for such actions in order to preserve the judicial system. While high school students understand that actions have consequences, relating the concept to judicial accountability may be both difficult and boring. Instead of simply presenting ethical concepts that judges must comply with, teachers should generate a discussion by posing an interesting question. When, for instance, does a judge's opinion serve to harm the judicial system, is a good question that would generate a lively debate.

Teachers desiring to engage the class without using the entire class period should consider icebreakers that are both educational and interesting. When considering the qualities of a good judge, for instance, teachers should pose discussion questions that will generate several answers so that students can be divided to post opinions on the board by category. A question such as, "What are the attributes of a good judge?" will generate multiple answers that can lead into the lesson plan. Regardless of the icebreaker question, educators should remember that the purpose of the class is to convey criminal and social justice concepts.