The Judicial Branch, Day 6 - Class Recap

The exterior of the Colosseum in Rome. At the end of gladiator fights, the loser would famously be judged by the emperor. Photo taken summer 2014.

Dear class,

A lot packed in today - but we got through it all and I hope the tests reflected it! Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: "Heroes" by David Bowie. Selected for today because you were able to study up and take the Judicial Branch test in one day. Heroic! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 12/17/14:
News Brief – A-b
Juries
The National Judiciary
Judicial Branch Test

Homework: Read the blog. Turn in any late/incomplete work. Next news brief: Luke (just find an article - no write up needed).

News Brief: A-b had the news brief today and talked about this story: CNN.com - Pakistan militants: Children's massacre was to avenge army strikes. We talked about the United States foreign aid to Pakistan, which is around a billion dollars a year.

Luke was assigned to do the next news brief (after the test).

Juries/The National Judiciary: We did have the time to go through both of these in detail today - thoroughly reviewing the main concepts of the unit, before the test:

Google Drive: Reading on Juries for Judicial Branch Test

Google Drive: The National Judiciary Readings and Questions

Judicial Branch Test: Most of class was spent going over many questions about the judicial branch. I also passed out this study guide for preparation:

Google Drive: Judicial Branch Test Study Guide

Students did take the test at the end of the class - it was 25 questions, multiple choice. Thanks for your hard work on this! If you did not take the test, you will when you next are in class.

Next class, we will be watching 12 Angry Men (1957), which is rated at the #7 best movie of all time by IMDb users. See you then!

The Judicial Branch, Day 5 - Class Recap

The flag of the United States, before the Holiday Bowl football game in 2008. Today, we had an interesting mock trial on saying the Pledge of Allegiance in class.

Hi everyone,

Although the mock trials today took much longer than I expected, I really enjoyed the discussions and debates they brought up, and I had the sense that most students did, too. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson. Because you have to make the change you want to see in the world. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 12/15/14:
News Brief – Manuel
Mock Trials
Juries
The National Judiciary

Homework: Read the blog. Study for Judicial Branch test (possibly next class). Next news brief: A-b.

News Brief: Manuel had the news brief today and talked about this story: CNN.com - Gunman, two others dead in Sydney siege, police say. This was a breaking news story when we were talking about it in class!

A-b was assigned to do the next news brief.

Mock Trials: As I previously mentioned, the majority of class was taken up by doing the mock trials for the three cases we had left from last class. We had a really excellent discussion on the issues: school segregation, drug searches at school, and saying the Pledge of Allegiance in class. Please complete the rest of your mock trial packet! Searching for the case summaries on Google might help you understand the cases in greater detail.

Juries/The National Judiciary: We ran out of time at the end of class, but I did pass out these two handouts, so students could read and review them to prepare for the upcoming test. I will see how it goes next class with going through these, but the test will be on these readings, as well as the Supreme Court cases that we have been studying.

Google Drive: Reading on Juries for Judicial Branch Test

Google Drive: The National Judiciary Readings and Questions

As I said in class, it would be good to go over these, but we will have class time on Wednesday to go over them as a class, before the test. My guess is that this might take half the class, and then the rest of class would be taking the Judicial Branch test (25 questions, multiple choice).

Sound good? Let me know if you have any questions I can answer! Thanks again for an enjoyable class this morning! :-)

The Judicial Branch, Day 4 - Class Recap

Looking down the National Mall, from the top of the Washington Monument. The United States Supreme Court building is behind and to the left of the Capitol Building. Photo taken in 2010.

Dear class,

Whew, what a complicated day it seemed like today! I'm glad we finally made it on to doing the mock trials. We will finish them up next class and then learn more about the Judicial Branch. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:

Knowledge LT 5: I can demonstrate an understanding of the principles, structures, and functions of different levels of U.S. government.

Soundtrack: "I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley. Selected for today because if Mr. Marley had shot a sheriff, he would be in big trouble with the judicial branch. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 12/11/14:
News Brief – Gaby/Keegan
Mock Trial Prep
Trials
Juries

Homework: Read the blog. Next news brief: Manuel.

News Brief: Gaby had the news brief today and talked about this story: DailyCaller.com - Sessions On Executive Amnesty: Obama’s ‘Entirely New Immigration System’ A ‘Stunning Event’. We talked about this, as well as the new federal budget. Here are some specifics: WashingtonPost.com - What’s in the spending bill? We skim it so you don’t have to.

Manual was assigned to do the next news brief.

Mock Trial Prep: I know this was confusing - I will have to reassess how I teach this! Basically, I split everyone up into different cases. Each case had lawyers (for the petitioner and respondent), judges (representing the Supreme Court), and observers (to take notes). Most of class was spent preparing for the trials and organizing the notes on the cases.

Trials: We did get to do one of the mock trials today: about the famous "Bong Hits for Jesus" case. Although the justices in the room found unanimously in favor of the student, the real case found in favor of the school district. Here it is, if you want to check it out:

USCourts.gov - FACTS AND CASE SUMMARY: MORSE V. FREDERICK

Basically, the court said that schools have a right to stop promotion of illegal drugs, while students are under their care. While the student was on a public sidewalk, he was still under the care of the district, apparently.

We will keep going on these, next class! Please finish your legal briefs for your side of the case you were assigned (the first page in the cases packet), and your justice form for the second case in your packet.

See you next week!