These lessons help your students begin to understand why the Founders felt a need to establish a more perfect Union and how they proposed to accomplish such a weighty task.
Civics Lessons
Grade Level: Grades K-5
The Preamble to the Constitution: How Do You Make a More Perfect Union?
Goldilocks vs. the Three Bears
This scripted mock trial includes ideas for pre and post mock trial activities.
The Presidency
Students develop an understanding of the qualities of a leader and begin to see themselves as leaders. Students will learn about and understand who can become president and what his/her duties would be as president.
Krabbs v. Plankton Mock Trial
Students learn about the different roles and responsibilities in a court by participating in a mock trial.
The President’s Roles and Responsibilities: Communicating with the President
Through several activities, students learn about the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. president and their own duties as citizens of a democracy
State vs. Jack Robinson Mock Trial
This scripted mock trial includes ideas for pre and post mock trial activities.
The Vote
Students will better understand the concept of the Electoral College by participating in a mock Electoral College vote.
The Tired King
Students learn about the three functions of government in this interactive role play.
The Problem of SpongeBob RoundPants
This short scripted mock trial for grades 4-6 involves SpongeBob suing Abercrombie and Fish for pants that don’t fit. Scripted parts allow the trial to move quickly to jury deliberations during which the student jurors actually decide the verdict of the case.
Understanding Contracts
In this lesson, students are asked which of two chocolate bars – one with nuts, one without – they prefer. A single representative is taken from each preference group. These representatives are given the chocolate bar that they prefer less, motivating a contractual trade. One student unknowingly has an empty wrapper, eliciting debate after the trade is completed. The class concludes by discussing possible equitable solutions.