High School and Middle School
Lesson Plans
Handout Notes
Most of the lesson plans listed below include a handout.
For those speaking to high school juniors or seniors, an optional handout of lasting value for this age group is recommended and available at a nominal cost.
Access to Justice
ATJ annual skits
Constitutional Law
Drug testing in schools (grades 9-12)
Drugs and the war on drugs—opinion poll (grades 6-12)
Freedom of speech—school newspaper (grades 9-12)
Freedom of religion—the equal access act (grades 9-12)
Human rights—Japanese internment during WWII
Consumer Law and Contracts
Unfair or deceptive sales practices (grades 8-12)
Objectives: analyze hypothetical cases to evaluate whether a sales practice is fair or unfair, compare their opinions with Washington law, list community sources to find help for a consumer problem.
Buying a used car—implied merchantability warranty (grades 10-12)
Minors and voidable (cancelable) contracts (grades 9-12)
Housing law (grades 9-12)
Criminal/Juvenile Justice System
Juvenile Justice—Introduction (grades 9-12)
Objectives: to define the legal meaning of juvenile, to examine ways to treat offenders in various fact cases, and to explain the philosophy of the Washington juvenile justice system.
Juvenile justice—consequences of offenses to offenders, victims and the community (grades 6-12)
Objectives: to identify consequences of juvenile crime on offenders, victims, and the community, and the justice process.
Auto accident mock trial—alcohol host liability (grades 10-12)
Crime defenses—arguing a "cultural defense" (grades 7-12)
Domestic violence/dating violence (grades 9-12)
Drunken driving—knowing and drafting legislation (grades 9-12)
Juvenile justice mock trial—second-degree robbery (grades 7-12)
Juvenile justice disposition (Sentencing)—options, guidelines and Washington state philosophy (grades 7-12)
Plea bargaining (grades 9-12)
Search and seizure—obtaining a search warrant (grades 9-12)
Introduction to Law
No vehicles in the park (grades 5-12)
Objectives: Identify purpose and function of law, lawmakers' intent, practical applications, and that laws are subject to interpretation.
The trial process—history, purpose, parties, evidence, burden of proof, order of trial (grades 5-12)
Claim Your jurisdiction game/interpreting law on safe employment (grades 8-12) (combined, requires 3 class periods)
Objectives: identify the levels and courts in the federal and state systems & which court would handle a particular type of case, list differences between court jurisdictions; analyze an employment fact pattern, argue re interpreting law and present an appeals case.
Why do we need a government? (grades 6-9)
How can citizens participate? (grades 6-12)
Parental accountability—Washington laws, public policy, and role-playing a city counsel hearing (grades 6-12)
Environmental and Land Use Law
Environmental & Land Use Law: Engaging Students in their Communities (grades 9 - 12)
Objective: Multiple lesson plans and extension activities adaptable to a single class session or a multi-week course of study designed to help high school students evaluate potential careers in law and understand the important role that environmental and land use law play in our society.
Problem Solving
Conflicts Resolution—tickets to a concert (grades 6-12)
Objectives: analyze a conflict identifying the positions, interests, possible resolutions, obstacles to reaching resolution, and various conflict resolution strategies including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
