Courts in the Classroom
Lesson Plans and Materials
The following teaching components may contain any or all of three features: (1) a video webcast of an event; (2) one or more lesson plans that meet Indiana's social studies education standards; and (3) supporting materials, such as images, scripted trials, other documents, and online resources. Categories include: Featured Cases, General Lessons, Special Events, and Teacher Training.
 
Category Title Description
Webcast
Lessons
Materials
Grades
Featured Case Rene v. Reed A case appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court; component includes oral argument webcast, official court documents, and lesson plans focusing on the subject of due process. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark
7-12
Featured Case Ritter v. Stanton A case appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court; component includes oral argument webcast, official court documents, and lesson plans focusing on the subject of jury trials. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark
7-12
Featured Case

Shah v. Harris

 A case appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals; component includes oral argument webcast, official court documents, and lesson plans focusing on the subjects of construction of legal arguments, statutes of limitations, and medical malpractice. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark
7-12
General Lesson Indiana Government, By the People: Indiana Trial Courts Sample chapter of a lesson plan booklet published by Purdue University in cooperation with the Indiana Supreme Court n/a Checkmark n/a 4-8
General Lesson Indiana Government, By the People: Indiana Appellate Courts Sample chapter of a lesson plan booklet published by Purdue University in cooperation with the Indiana Supreme Court n/a Checkmark n/a 4-8
General Lesson The Structure of Indiana Courts An introduction to how Indiana courts work, their structure and processes. n/a Checkmark Checkmark
4-12
General Lesson Slave Cases and the Indiana Supreme Court Resources for teaching about the Underground Railroad. n/a Checkmark Checkmark
4-12

Special Event

Legal History Lecture Series

Mendez v. Westminster : “Para Todos Los Niños”
School Segregation in the post-Brown Era? 		This Law Day 2007 Celebration event examines a California school segregation case that predates Brown v. Board of Education. Checkmark n/a Checkmark 6-12

Special Event

Legal History Lecture Series

Accessing Indiana's Past: Isaac Blackford and 19th Century Slavery Cases Showcases the Court's efforts to develop new ways to access information about Indiana 's legal past including: a searchable database of early Indiana cases, dramatic re-enactments about the lives of key figures in Indiana legal history, and a biography series about Indiana lawyers and judges. Checkmark n/a Checkmark 9-12
Special Event "A Matter of Justice" A Freetown Village dramatic production highlighting the 1855 anti-slavery Supreme Court case Freeman v. Robinson. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark
4-12
Special Event Ask Me What's Great About America IPS Superintendent Dr. Suellen Reed and Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard address four classes of Indiana students about "What's Great About America." Checkmark Checkmark n/a
K-4
5-8
Special Event Benjamin Harrison Day in Fort Wayne, Indiana (October 2007)

A reenactment of the 1871 Ex Parte Milligan case in celebration of Benjamin Harrison Day 2007 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Script available for download.

n/a Checkmark Checkmark 4-12
Special Event

Benjamin Harrison Day
2003 Benjamin Harrison Day
2005 Benjamin Harrison Day
2006 Benjamin Harrison Day
2007 Benjamin Harrison Day
2008 Benjamin Harrison Day

A reenactment of the 1871 Ex Parte Milligan case in celebration of Benjamin Harrison Day 2008. Script available for download. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 4-12
Special Event

Benjamin Harrison Day 2003 (Additional Resources from 2003)

March 4 was declared Benjamin Harrison Day by then Gov. Frank O'Bannon in 2003; this event is a celebration of that proclamation at which Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard offers President Benjamin Harrison a judicial pardon for an unusual offense. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 4-12
Special Event

2007 Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong

2006 Bound for Freedom

 A drama that re-enacts aspects of a famous case challenging the prohibition of slavery found in Indiana's 1816 Constitution that was brought on behalf of a young black woman, Polly Strong. Checkmark n/a Checkmark 4-12
Special Event Law Day A recreation of the four cases collectively known as Brown v. Board of Education and the historic Supreme Court decision that ended segregation in America's public schools. Checkmark n/a Checkmark
4-12
Special Event Constitution & Citizenship Day An educational program recognizing national “Constitution & Citizenship Day” including resources on both the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 5-12
Special Event Reconciling Truth: The Ordeal of Sojourner Truth in Indiana A dramatic production featuring local Indianapolis actors about Sojourner Truth's self-representation and triumph in two criminal trials in Indiana. Checkmark n/a Checkmark
7-12
Special Event The Trial of Susan B. Anthony A recreation, with audience participation, of the 1873 trial of Susan B. Anthony for voting in the Presidential Election in Rochester, NY on November 5, 1872. Checkmark n/a Checkmark
4-12
Teacher Training Citizenship & Character: Lessons from American History The seminar's content will provide teachers with materials to help their students meet not only the Civic, History, and Character Education standards for Indiana, but also prepare them to meet federal and state literacy standards. Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark For teachers of grades 9 to 12
Teacher Training Project Citizen: Central Region Institute Watch the "Central Region Institute" video for more information about how to get your class involved in Project Citizen. Checkmark n/a Checkmark -
 
Last modified on Thursday, March, 13, 2008