8th Grade Criminal Justice & Law Resources

This career unit gives students an introduction to the law, public safety, corrections and security career cluster and what a career in this field would be like. This is perfect for a career, technology, CTE or business class.

The included PowerPoint presentation can be used by the teacher for whole class instruction, or provided to the students electronically (or as a printout) for them to review individually. Students use close reading skills with a short informational passage to learn about the career field and answer questions to use critical thinking skills and demonstrate their understanding. Two different puzzles are included to learn different jobs in the career and to reinforce vocabulary skills. A technology based project comic creation project is included to allow students to use critical thinking and creativity to further explore the career field. A quick reference/tutorial is also included for StoryboardThat (free, no download needed). Additionally, a group legal case analysis project that can be completed without student computer access (by the teacher printing out the linked information) or providing access to a computer for each group to research is provided to simulate the career and allow students to utilize critical thinking skills and teamwork. Finally, a short reflection questionnaire gives students the opportunity to reflect and analyze their learning as they determine if this career field is of interest to them.

The project was created for grades 7-8 but could easily be used with high school students. The teacher can choose to use some or all of the provided lesson options included in this resource.

This lesson is great for distance learning/remote learning. You can upload it to your school's learning management system (Google Classroom, Edmodo, Canvas, etc.) or share with students via Google Drive.

Files Included with this Lesson

• Teacher & Student Notes and Resources

• Introduction to Law Careers PowerPoint presentation (editable)

• Introduction to Law Careers Research Reading and Questions

• Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle (includes answer key)

• Job Type Word Search Puzzle (includes answer key)

• Technology based Creative Application Project Instructions, Tutorial and Rubric

• Team Brainstorming Worksheet

• Case Study Task Cards (6 different cases)

• Law Career Simulation Group Lesson Instructions and Rubric

• Law Career Reflection Questions (MS Word)

This lesson is a part of the bundle Exploring Careers: 16 Career Cluster Units BUNDLE

Related Products
⭐ Real World Math - How Math is Used in Law & Public Safety Careers
⭐ Landmark Cases of the Supreme Court - Research & Presentation using Powtoon

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Does your classroom need a quick reference overview of the Government Braches for the state of GA? Well, of course it does! And here it is! This posters shows information about all three branches of government with interesting facts about each one! The Legislative Branch, The Judicial Branch, The Executive Branch...they're all here!!

Do your students enjoy learning about unsolved mysteries? Do they want to learn about true crime, the Bermuda Triangle, and other global mysteries? Then download this Unsolved Mysteries Research Activity WebQuest for High School English! Fully editable, students will learn about various mysteries including the Bermuda Triangle, D.B. Cooper, Loch Ness Monster, and more!

You'll receive the activity in print and digital formats when you purchase this scavenger hunt resource. The research questions provide for scaffolded instruction that can be completed individually, in pairs, or in small groups. You can even use this lesson as a fun team-building or gamified activity. Your students are guaranteed to learn more about true crime with this high-quality, no-prep resource!

➟ Ways to Use This Resource:

• Full Class Activity
• Small Group Instruction
• Homework
• Extra Credit
• Substitute Plan
• ... and more!

➟ This Resource Includes:

• Multi-step Question WebQuest (Print + Digital Formats)
• Instructions & answer Key
• Live links are provided with each question and compiled on the last page of the resource
• Website evaluation form
• Terms of Use

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This lesson will have students critically explore a contentious current event issue involving the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The lesson will invite students to examine the context and controversy that surrounds the two cases, although emphasis will be placed on the Eric Garner case. A thought-provoking Slide Presentation & accompanying handouts will prompt students to analyze a variety of news resources; all of which frame the issue in a particular way, and offer different explanations as to the underlying causal factors in Garner’s death.

**New Google App format available now***

This lesson includes:

• One 18 Slide Presentation
• Detailed Lesson Plan
• Handouts:

1. Handout #1- Guided Notes
2. Handout #2- Current Events: America’s Criminal Justice System

Race, Criminal justice system, controversy, racism, Black Lives Matter, Colin Kaepernick

If you liked this lesson see other related 'Government' lessons here:

• Analyzing 'The Bill of Rights' (click here to open in new tab)
• Mock Trial: Truman and the Atomic Bomb (click here to open in new tab)
• Mock Trial: Class Preparation (click here to open in new tab)
• Analyzing The Declaration of Independence & the U.S. Constitution (click here to open in new tab)
• Our Constitutional Amendments: Analyzing Supreme Court Decisions (click here to open in new tab)
• Causes and Effect: Protest Movements of the 1960's
• The Affirmative Action Debate: Exploring Two Sides of the Issue

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This resource will provide students with an introductory framework from which to understand the judiciary process. Students will delve into the fundamental aspects of a courtroom such as: the basic structure and lay-out of a courtroom, the function of different roles (judge, jury, defense, prosecutor), and the common procedures and language used in a courtroom environment. Students will also explore the importance of how to create an opening and closing statement, the legal grounds of when to object, and understand the dynamics of a direct and cross examination. This resource will be very useful for teachers who are searching for an engaging & informative way to introduce students to the concept of mock trials.

Materials:

• Teacher Reference Guide
• One 32 Slide Presentation & Guided Notes
• One 12 Slide Presentation & Guided Notes (Step by Step Application)
• Mock Trial Handouts

1. Jury Role Play
2. Opening Statement
3. Closing Statement
4. Objections
5. Debriefing

If you liked this lesson see other related 'Government' lessons here:

• The Debate on Affirmative Action: Exploring Two Sides of the Issue
• Controversy and the Criminal Justice System (Eric Garner Case)
• The 'Bill of Rights' Time Travel
• YOU Be the Judge: Analyzing Supreme Court Decisions
• Proposing a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• Post Zombie Apocalypse: What Form of Government Would YOU Create?

Engage your students in having them draw important connections between the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and contemporary grassroots movements taking place in the United States. This lesson will prompt students to analyze short documentary video clips that focus on six different contemporary grassroots movements:

1) Women’s March

2) Immigration

3) Standing Rock

4) Black Lives Matter

5) Climate Change

6) Teacher Strikes

With the corresponding video clips, students will fill out a provided T-chart that will identify the following aspects of each movement:

1) Desired Outcome/Changes

2) Group(s) involved

3) Strategies

4) Obstacle/Challenges

5) Questions

Hands-on activities: Two relevant, critical thinking activities follow that involve having students take their prior knowledge of the Civil Rights era (1950/60’s) and;

1. Using a Venn diagram, students will compare this time period with current day grassroots movements.

2. Each group will then discuss what issues are relevant and meaningful for them. Students will choose an issue that they wish to see change, and then as a group, will create a poster that promotes their cause.

Time frame for lesson:

• 3-4 class periods (60 min) *If time is an issue; the teacher can choose from the six contemporary movements that he/she would like for their students to focus on.

Materials:

• One 21 Slide Presentation
• Detailed lesson plan
• Digital Student Handouts:

1. HANDOUT #1- PowerPoint T-Chart
2. HANDOUT#2- Venn Diagram
3. HANDOUT#3- Grading Rubrics
4. HANDOUT #4- Rethinking schools blog: Making People’s History in Arizona: Educator’s Rise Up

*Note:

Students will have already learned about the Civil Rights era. This lesson serves as a critical thinking extension activity that encourages students to draw connections to contemporary grass roots movements & the Civil Rights movement.

Civil Rights Movement, current events, grassroots, racism, controversy, poster, Trump