Court Systems & Practices
Court Systems & Practices (CSP) is a junior-level class that is one year long in my district after students have already taken Principles of Law. As part of the course, they will be introduced to the legal profession and important cases that have defined the criminal justice system in Texas. Senior year, they will take Court Practicum and internship at a law firm as part of the Legal Studies track in the Criminal Justice endorsement.
Teacher Notes on Unit Structure
Notes on Unit Structure:
I start class every single day with a Bellringer projected on the board made up of 5 questions usually over the unit's vocabulary
I end every class with an Exit Ticket, which is one question that students answer on the same document as the bellringer
I post a PDF of the Bellringer & Exit tickets on Thursday afternoon for any absent students
Bellringers & Exit Tickets are due on Friday
We always do guided notes on Monday
They turn them in after doing the notes
We play Kahoot & Quizlet Live the day before their test
Unit 1: Road to the US Constitution
Day 1
Road to the US Constitution Notes
Day 2
Presidential Trading Cards Activity
Day 3
US Constitution Poster
Day 4
US Constitution Poster
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Day 6
Amendments to the US Constitution Notes
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Unit 2: Searches, Seizures & Trials
Day 1
5th & 6th Amendment Notes
Day 2
Miranda Rights Video Quiz
5th & 6th Amendments Foldable
Day 3
6th Amendment Case Study
Day 4
Miranda v. AZ Brochure
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Day 6
4th Amendment Notes
Day 7
4th Amendment Landmark Cases
Day 8
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 9
Test
Day 10
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Unit 3: Punishments & Federalism
Day 1
8th, 9th, & 10th Amendment Notes
Note Summarization
Day 2
9th Amendment Activity
Day 3
Federalism Foldable
Day 4
Federalism Foldable
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Day 6
Cruel & Unusual Punishments Activity
Day 7
8th Amendment Case Study
Day 8
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 9
Test
Day 10
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Unit 4: State & Federal Court
Day 1
State & Federal Court Notes
Day 2
9 Vocabulary State & Federal Court
Day 3
Texas Court Systems Poster
Day 4
Texas Court Systems Poster
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Day 6
Biography Project- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Day 7
Biography Project- Texas Supreme Court
Day 8
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet live as a team
Test Review
Day 9
Test
Day 10
Six Weeks Project- US Supreme Court Justices Biography
Unit 5: US Supreme Court
Day 1
US Supreme Court Notes
US Supreme Court Video Quiz
Day 2
Judicial Review Video Quiz
US Supreme Court Justices Biography Project
Day 3
Landmark US Supreme Court Cases
Day 4
finish Landmark US Supreme Court Cases
Justices Coloring Activity
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
US Supreme Court & Free Speech Activity
Day 7
US Supreme Court & Free Speech Activity
Day 8
Tinker v. Des Moines Case Study
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project-Law & Order Fridays
Unit 6: Laws & Legislation
Day 1
Federal Legislation Notes
Note Summarization
Day 2
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Day 3
Bill Mark Up Activity
Day 4
Bill becomes a Law WebQuest
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Texas Legislation Session 2021
Day 7
Bill Becomes a Law Poster
Day 8
Bill Becomes a Law Poster
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 7: Courthouse Professionals
Day 1
Courthouse Professionals Notes
Day 2
Law School Pennant Project
Day 3
Law School Pennant Project
Day 4
Law School Pennant Project
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Victim & Defendant Notes
Day 7
Courthouse Professionals LapBook Project
Day 8
Courthouse Professionals LapBook Project
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 8: Prosecutors & Plea Bargains
Day 1
Prosecutors & Plea Bargains Notes
Day 2
Plea Bargains Video Quiz
Note Summarization
Day 3
Felons & Consequences Class Activity
Day 4
Plea Bargains Scenarios
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
American Violet Movie
Day 7
American Violet Movie
Day 8
American Violet Movie
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 9: Pre-Trial: Arrests & Bail
Day 1
Pre-Trial: Arrests Notes
Day 2
9 Vocabulary Arrests
Day 3
Live PD
Day 4
Live PD
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Pre-Trial: Bail Notes
Day 7
9 Vocabulary Bail Activity
Day 8
Bail Simulation Activity
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Law & Order Fridays
Unit 10: Pre-Trial: Grand Jury
Day 1
Grand Jury notes
Grand Jury Video Quiz
Day 2
12 Vocabulary Grand Jury Activity
Day 3
Day 4
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 5
Test
6 Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 11: Pre-Trial: Evidence & Discovery
Day 1
Pre-Trial: Evidence Notes
Day 2
9 Vocabulary Evidence Activity
Day 3
Evidence Foldable
Day 4
Admissible Scenarios Activity
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Pre-Trial: Discovery Notes
Day 7
Magic Numbers Discovery Activity
Day 8
Michael Morton Foldable Activity
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Quiz
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 11
Pre-Trial Motions Notes
Note Summarization
Day 12
Motions Scenarios
Day 13
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 14
Test
Day 15
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 12: Jury Selection
Day 1
Jury Selection Notes
Day 2
Voir Dire Simulation Activity
Day 3
The Jury Speaks- OJ Simpson Documentary
Day 4
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 5
Test
finish OJ Simpson/The Jury Speaks Documentary
Unit 13: Trial Testimony
Day 1
Trial Testimony Notes
Day 2
9 Vocabulary Testimony Activity
Day 3
Types of Questions Game Cards Activity
Day 4
Jack Smith Robbery Case Simulation
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Non-Verbal Communication Notes
Day 7
Objections Scenarios
Day 8
Killer Cross Examination Real Trial Activity
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 14: Trial Statements
Day 1
Trial Statements Notes
Day 2
Skylar Richardson Trial Analysis
Day 3
Skylar Richardson Trial Analysis
Day 4
Skylar Richardson Trial Analysis
Day 5
Skylar Richardson Trial Analysis
Day 6
Beauty & The Beast Opening Statements Activity
Day 7
Beauty & The Beast Opening Statements Activity
Day 8
Beauty & The Beast Opening Statements Activity
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Law & Order Fridays
Unit 15: Fairytale Court
Day 1
Fairytale Court Preparation
Day 2
Fairytale Court
Day 3
Fairytale Court Preparation
Day 4
Fairytale Court
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Fairytale Court Preparation
Day 7
Fairytale Court
Day 8
Fairytale Court Preparation
Day 9
Fairytale Court
Day 10
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 16: Sentencing & Appeals
Day 1
Jury Verdict & Sentencing Notes
Day 2
9 Vocabulary Sentencing Activity
Day 3
12 Angry Men Video Analysis
Day 4
12 Angry Men Video Analysis
Day 5
12 Angry Men Video Analysis
Day 6
Appeals Notes
Day 7
Magic Number Appeals
Day 8
Divorce Decry Activity
Day 9
Kahoot as an individual
Quizlet Live as a team
Test Review
Day 10
Test
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 17: Mock Trial
Day 1
Mock Trail Preparation
Day 2
Mock Trial #1
Day 3
Mock Trial #1
Day 4
Mock Trial #1
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
Mock Trial Preparation
Day 7
Mock Trial #2
Day 8
Mock Trial #2
Day 9
Mock Trial #2
Day 10
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Unit 18: Cases in the Media
Day 1
Brian Banks movie analysis
Day 2
Brian Banks movie analysis
Day 3
Brian Banks movie analysis
Day 4
Brian Banks movie analysis
Day 5
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays
Day 6
OJ Simpson Case Analysis
Day 7
OJ Simpson Case Analysis
Day 8
OJ Simpson Poster Project
Day 9
OJ Simpson Poster Project
Day 10
Six Weeks Project- Law & Order Fridays