Reminder: Parent Conferences are Thurs., 5/1 at 12:30-3:00, 4-7pm

1. Handed out progress reports; students must share w/ parent & return w/ a signature tomorrow to class.

2. Where is your participation grade? Students calculated their current participation grades as a "check" to adjust classroom participation for the rest of the trimester.

3. Handed back Ch. 9 Quizzes; all correct answers were shared & recorded; Mrs. Baker did a bit of "reteaching" based on student questions after going over the quiz

4. Wrapped up the Pre-Trial Hearing on the rape case from WA; Mrs. Baker shared the actual judicial decision & sentencing guidelines Mr. McKnight faced.

5. Handed out the Property Crime Discussion Outline. Began working through Property Crime Discussion Outline. Started exploring elements of larceny.

Parent Conferences are this week - 5/1. Please remind parents to attend.

1. New NICENET topic went up last night. Make sure to respond to it this week. NICENET portfolios are due on Fri., 5/9.

2. Pre-Trial Hearing: WA rape case

To wrap up the crimes against persons chapter, students participated in a hands-on hearing role playing attorneys and judges. Students were assigned as prosecuting and defense attorneys to the case, and judges who listened to the arguments and made a ruling regarding the proper charge for Mr. McKnight, the defendant in the case.

Click here to see the instruction sheets for each role.

A. Preparation in Groups based on role
B. Hearings
C. Judges share decisions and reasoning

1. Students finished viewing the DVD of "12 Angry Men" during class.

Essentional Question: Should the defendant have been charged with first-degree murder in this case? Why or why not?

Click here to see the guidesheet students completed to keep track of the jury deliberation.

Students responded & defended their arguments on the essential question.

2. Introduced Pre-trial Hearing Activity - WA Rape case

Click here to see the rape hearing materials handed out to students to prepare for Monday's hearing.

1. Handed back Ch. 9 problems & reviewed problems 9.1 & 9.2 in particular based on homework responses.

2. Quiz on Crimes Against Persons - 32 points

Quiz tomorrow on crimes against persons. Click here to link to the practice online quiz on Chapter 9.

Mrs. Baker was overseeing the APGOV Forum in the LMC - guest teacher presided.

1. Students viewed the DVD of "12 Angry Men" during class.

Essentional Question: Should the defendant have been charged with first-degree murder in this case? Why or why not?

Click here to see the guidesheet students completed to keep track of the jury deliberation.

1. Study and review the Ch. 9 Discussion Outline on the different crimes.

There will be a quiz tomorrow covering concepts on both Chapters 8 & 9 in Street Law.

Don't forget - Quiz on Crimes Against Persons on Thurs., 4/24.

1. Collected Street Law Ch. 9 Problems (9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5). Click here to see the HW rubric.

2. Crimes Against Persons: We continued working through the Discussion Outline on Crimes Against Persons. Click here for a copy of the Ch. 9 Discussion Outline.

• voluntary manslaughter
• involuntary manslaughter
• assault/battery

1. Study and review the Ch. 9 Discussion Outline on the different crimes.

There will be a quiz on 4/24 covering concepts on both Chapters 8 & 9 in Street Law.

Reminders: Make sure to be doing NICENET on a regular basis. A new topic is up today.

Activity: Crimes Against Person:We started working through the Discussion Outline on Crimes Against Persons. Click here for a copy of the Ch. 9 Discussion Outline.

1. Wrapped up review over parties/roles people play in crimes through Problem 8.2.

2. Quiz: Introduction to Criminal Law - 30 points.

3. To supplement the Street Law text, we began working through the Discussion Outline on Crimes Against Persons. Click here for a copy of the Ch. 9 Discussion Outline.

QUIZ tomorrow!

1. Finished Chapter 8 Discussion Outline wrapping up causation and attempt crimes

2. Reviewed Problems 8.2 & 8.3 - what roles do people play in crimes? What are the preliminary crimes?

Need more help for review of the terms talked about in Chapter 8? If so, click here for an article that does a good job of reviewing the information. The article is 4 pages long so make sure to click to see each page.

Quiz on Chapter 8 will be on Fri, 4/18. Review both the textbook & the Chapter 8 Discussion Outline.

1. Collected Street Law Chapter 8 problems (8.2 & 8.3)

2. Video Clips: Enter the Jury Room - Students watched jury deliberation in two cases in the documentary. Students completed questions and observations during the viewing and turned them in.

3. Students were then given classtime to begin reading/notating the chapter on Crimes against Persons.

Reminders:
a. Street Law Ch. 8 Problems are due tomorrow for a homework grade
b. Quiz on Chapter 8 - Introduction to Criminal Law is on Fri., 4/18.

1. New NICENET topic is up for the week. The NICENET portfolio will be due on Fri., 5/9. Mark your calendar!

2. Activity: Continued reviewing Chapter 8 working through the Chapter 8 Discussion Outline :

• actus reus
• mens rea
• concurrence
• causation

Welcome back from Spring Break!

Mrs. Baker returns...

Reminders: If (excused) absent on 4/3, please make arrangements to take the test missed. Law binders were also graded on 4/3 & will need to be submitted for a grade.

1. Grades for the test are in the computer if checking grades online

2. Handed out the following materials:

• New notebook organizer sheet for the second unit
• Unit 2 Study Guide (Ch. 8-11 in Street Law)
• Introduction to Criminal Law Discussion Outline

3. Activity: Began exploring the basic common elements in criminal law through the Chapter 8 Discussion Outline. Focused on what is meant by a voluntary act/"actus reus"in criminal law.

Reminders: End of Unit Assessment will be on Thurs., 4/3. Please make arrangements to do it earlier in the week if not in class on 4/3.

1. Quiz: Chapters 5 & 14 on the court system. The quiz is worth 55 points.

1. Updated notebook organizer for Law binders

2. Collected Advocacy Projects

3. Activity: Stations Activity - Right to Counsel

Students rotated through 8 different stations examining documents exploring the evolution of right to counsel in the US.

Advocacy Project is due tomorrow. Click here to see the rubric that will be used to grade it.

1. 2nd & 5th Hours: Reviewed the concepts of precendent and stare decisis; class discussion on the facts, issue, ruling, and significance of the Plessy v. Ferguson case and the precedent set with it. The differences between "errors of law" and "errors of fact" were explored - using a baseball analogy.

2. To see how precedent was overturned, students then began reading the Brown v. Board of Education case analysis - again working with a partner or two to begin answering the "Questions to Consider".

2. 4th Hour: Class time was given today in the lab to work on Mrs. Sunstrum's Advocacy Project and/or to get caught up with posting responses on the NICENET discussion board.

Students completed an Exit ticket

Advocacy Project is due in 2 days. Click here to see the rubric that will be used to grade it.

1. Collected Plessy v. Ferguson Questions and Opinions

2. 2nd & 5th Hours: Lab - Class time was given today in the lab to work on Mrs. Sunstrum's Advocacy Project and/or to get caught up with posting responses on the NICENET discussion board.

2. 4th Hour: Tomorrow, students will be in the Lab to work on the Advocacy Project and/or o get caught up with posting responses on the NICENET discussion board.

1. Mrs. Baker reviewed the concepts of precendent and stare decisis; class discussion on the facts, issue, ruling, and significance of the Plessy v. Ferguson case and the precedent set with it. The differences between "errors of law" and "errors of fact" were explored - using a baseball analogy.

2. To see how precedent was overturned, students then began reading the Brown v. Board of Education case analysis - again working with a partner or two to begin answering the "Questions to Consider".

1. Keep working on the Advocacy Project - make sure to look at the scoring guide to see the criteria that will be used to grade the plan and the visual aid.

Reminders: Start planning ahead. Mark your calendars for the upcoming week:
a. Fri., 3/28- Advocacy Project is due!
b. Mon., 3/31-Quiz on Chapter 5: Courts & Ch. 14: Trial courts
c. Thurs., 4/3 - Test on the Introduction to Law Unit

1. Collected Street Law Problems from Ch. 5 (5.2 & 5.4) & 14.2.

2. Reviewed Appeals/Federal/State court systems

3. Case analysis: Plessy v. Ferguson - Working in small groups, students completed "Questions to Consider" on the Supreme Court case. Click here to see the case handout.

Reminders: Mrs. Sunstrum's Advocacy Project is due on Fri., 3/28. The problems on Chapter 5 and 14.2 are due tomorrow.

1. Turned in signed progress reports 2. Voir Dire Debrief- Discussed answers to the following questions:

• Discuss your perceptions of the voir dire process. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of this process?
• Will voir dire eliminate all potentially biased jurors? Why or why not?
• If voir dire does not eliminate all potentially biased jurors, why do we even have voir dire?
• What other alternatives could be used to make the jury selection process better?

3. Next, we began watching a CBS documentary, Enter the Jury Room, which explores the jury deliberation in three cases in Arizona. Click here to see the video guidesheet students began to complete today.

Reminder: Mrs. Sunstrum's Advocacy Project is due on Fri., 3/28. A rubric was handed out in class today that will be used to grade it.

1. Handed back quiz on Chapter 1 & reviewed the correct answers.

2. Activity - Voir Dire Simulation

One case from each class was picked and students participated in the jury selection process to better evaluate the jury selection process.

Chapter 5 Problems and 14.2 from Street Law will be due on Tues., 3/25.

Compose a response to the question posed at the end of class & be prepared to share your thoughts about this process on Monday.

Keep working on the Advocacy Project which is due on 3/28.

1. Collected Juror Questionnaire forms & assigned juror numbers

2Activity - Voir Dire Simulation
To better evaluate the jury system in trial courts, students participated in a voir dire simulation to see the process used to screen jurors for a particular case.

First, students were divided into groups assigned to a specific case. Then, students were given roles either as prosecutors or defense attorneys for each of the cases. Click here to see the different cases used in the Voir Dire Simulation.

Then, with their co-counsel students created 6 questions that they would ask potential jurors to screen them for their particular case.

Students completed the Voir Dire Attorney Worksheet to prepare for voir dire. Students needed to create questions which would reveal biases/prejudices of jurors that may not be sympathetic to their side of the case.

Reminders:

• Make sure to using a note-taking method as you read Chapter 5 in Street Law. There's quite a bit of material to keep track of on the court systems.
• Get going on the Advocacy Project - start developing your plan.

Warm-Up: Mark Twain quotation about the jury system - what statement is Twain making? Do you agree?

1. Trial Courts: Reviewed the key concepts from yesterday on trial courts in the U.S.

Click here to see Mrs. Sunstrum's powerpoint presentation on the court system.

2. Michigan Court Systems – Click here to see the diagram of the Michigan judicial system handed out in class today.

3. Introduction to Voir Dire process

• Making inferences & assumptions -3 things about Mrs. Baker
• Handed out the Juror Questionnaire form

1. Complete the Juror Questionnaire by tomorrow. It will be collected at the start of class and juror numbers will be assigned.

2. Work on Problems 5.2, 5.4 and 14.2 in Street Law dealing with the courts.

3. Review notes about the court system given in class this week.

TIP: Make flashcards of the different types of trial courts to use for study......

1. Chapter 1 QUIZ: Part I and Part II (notes were allowed on Part II)

2. Assigned Advocacy project: Project is due on Fri., 3/28. Rubrics will be forthcoming.

3. Introduction to The Court System

Click here to see Mrs. Sunstrum's powerpoint presentation on the court system from today.

3/17

Reminder: Quiz on Chapter 1 tomorrow. Make sure to review your notes.

1. LANYARDS - make sure they are on at all times

2. NICENET assignment due TODAY (pink sheet)

3. Checked for sticky notes and passed back conversation calendars

4. Mindwalk (4 th /5 th )

5. Activity: 1st Amendment – School Rights Handout/Activity and Discussion

Reminders: NICENET assignment due Monday, March 17 th (pink sheet)

1. Finished Civil Justice v. Criminal Justice System Case Studies Shared the details of each of the cases

2. O.J. Simpson Civil v. Criminal

3. Mindwalk/Cloze Procedure Debrief

4. Conversation Calendars

Reminders: Turn in late work (Cloze procedure)

NICENET assignment due Monday, March 17th (pink sheet). Any questions or difficulties getting registered yesterday?

1. Hand back graded ACT practice writing assignments

2. Review/clarifications on the Civil Justice v. Criminal Justice System chart filled out last night

3. Comparing & contrasting Civil and Criminal Cases: Students paired up with the Homework partner assigned yesterday and were given 2 documents to read, identify and analyze. Students discussed their reasoning behind determining which was which and recorded their thoughts on their charts.

Get registered on NICENET and begin adding your postings to the topics up.

Make sure to review the traits of both the civil and criminal justice systems.

Reminders: Make sure 3-ring binders are in your possession. Turn in late work (movie notes 1.6/Ch. 1 HW) if needed.

1. Updated Binder Organizer

2. Distributed Cloze procedure as HW to those absent on Friday for review tomorrow.

3. Study Guide questions/explanations and Homework clarifications/ reminders

4. NICENET – Modeled on projector how to register for the online discussion board for class. *Try to use the same username and pass assigned to you by EK. HW – Civil Justice v. Criminal Justice System Comparison (Side 1 only)

Do the Law Mindwalk activity looking for as many examples of laws impacting your daily lives.

Using your Street Law text, try to fill in as much of the blue 2-column chart comparing criminal and civil justice systems. Do side 1 only.

No Class - ACT/MME testing

1. Collected Street Law problems 1.4, 1.7 & 1.9 from students absent on 3/7. This rubric will be used to grade the problems.

2. "Doing business"- collecting homework, reading and notetaking reminders

3. Explained the Participation System that will be used over the trimester. Grading participation will begin 3/12.

4. Introduction to Law - Morality vs. Legality

Students shared observations and notes they took on the documentary shown last class.

5. ACT Writing Prompt: Good Samaritan Law

To give students practice on writing for the ACT, they were given 15-20 minutes to write an essay on whether Michigan should pass a Good Samaritan Law. (It will be graded as an activity grade, but scored using the ACT guidelines so students know how their writing would be scored on the real ACT.)

None - except to review the notes taken on Chapter 1 in Street Law.

1. Collected Parent syllabus forms

2. Collected Problems 1.4, 1.7 & 1.9 for a homework grade. This rubric will be used to grade the problems in Street Law.

3. Cloze Procedure - Students completed this reading diagnostic tool in class and turned them in when they finished.

4. Activity: Case of the Apathetic Bystanders

Student read the brief case description on page 12 titled the "Case of the Apathetic Bystanders" and considered the question why bystanders may not report and assist in stopping crime.

Then, students watched & notated a documentary, Silent Witnesses, exploring the Kitty Genovese murder they read about in Chapter 1 in Street Law. The DVD asks the students to consider how liable witnesses should be in a crime.

1. Complete all of Problem 1.6 on the case looked at in class today.

2. Finish notating Chapter 1 in Street Law and begin to review the key concepts and ideas covered in the reading. Complete the online quiz to check your comprehension of the key ideas.

Reminders: Make sure to get a 3-ring binder to organize your class materials.

Due to the unexpected absence of Mrs. Sunstrum, the guest teacher assigned students some class time to complete Problems 1.4, 1.7 and 1.9 in class.

Then, he showed a video clip of the documentary "30 Days" focusing on the issue of minimum wage. How does this issue related back to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights addressed in Chapter 1 in Street Law?

Finish notating Chapter 1 in Street Law and beging to review the key concepts and ideas covered in the reading. Complete the online quiz to check your comprehension of the key ideas.

Mrs. Baker will be on a Model UN field trip for the rest of the week.

1. Filled in Law notebook organizer form to get binders organized

2. Learning Styles Activity: Students completed the Walker Learning Preference survey and the Personal Style Inventory, which reveal students' learning styles and preferences. Using the results of the Walker Learning Preference, students made a human graph and constructed posters revealing their groups' learning styles.

1. Start taking notes on Chapter 1 in Street Law. Try a pre-reading strategy by looking at the chapter overview on the website. Use a note-taking strategy that has worked well for you in the past.

2. Then, begin tackling Problems 1.4, 1.7 & 1.9. These need to be done in ink or typed. ALWAYS EXPLAIN YOUR THINKING & THEY ANSWERS YOU GIVE.

1. Handed out the following materials:

• Criminal Law syllabus
• Parent letter & syllabus form
• Law notebook organizer form

2. Icebreaker: Shoe-In

3. Syllabus Overview: A quick run-through of the syllabus & the information regarding policies, grading, etc.

1. Take a closer look at the syllabus that was highlighted in class. Write down questions you might have about the syllabus and they will be answered tomorrow.

Welcome to 3rd trimester!

Click here to see today's Classroom Expectations Powerpoint Slides.

1.Class roster & name placards
2. Student Information Sheets completed
3. Quick overview of the course: My Pledge, Expectations
4. Mini Trial Activity: Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors

• Prosecutor & Defense arguments
• What does this case illustrate about laws, values and morality?

1. Get a 3-ring binder for law class.

2. Read the case summary about the shipwrecked sailors. Complete the 7 questions at the end on notebook paper (or type). Be ready to discuss this case & your responses tomorrow in class. Click here for a handout of the Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors