ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBonos Thinking Hats

ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBonos Thinking Hats
Nimira
Government
2nd Grade
How the Judicial Branch Works

ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBonos Thinking Hats
Goals:
-Students will learn about how the government functions
-Students will hold a court hearing and decide how to rule on a
court case

Objectives:
Content/Knowledge:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the court systems
by making a ruling on their own court case.

Process/Skills:
-Knowing the government procedures
-knowing what the legal system is

Values/Dispositions:
-Students will demonstrate a legal hearing

ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBonos Thinking Hats
Rationale:
This lesson is important because it will help the students better
understand how the 3 Branches of the Government work

Standards:
State Illinois Common Core or Learning Standards
-14.B.1 Identify the different levels of government as local, state
and national.
-14.B.2 Explain what government does at local, state and
national levels.

National NCSS Themes

-Power, Authority, and Governance
-Individual, Groups, Institutions

Objective

Objective
Activity:
Students will be given a case to read over and
decide what side they are on
Students will take notes on:
What happened
Who they think is guilty
Why are they guilty
Materials:
Case files
Legal terms definitions
Pencil
Notebook/Journal

Intuitive

Intuitive
Activity:
Students will be asked to give reasons why each
side is innocent and why each side is guilty.
Students will pick what role they want to play in
Mock Trials
Materials:
Journal/Notebook
Pencil
Case Files

Positive/Strength
s

Positive/Strength
s

Activity:
Students will decide what could have been done
so that the case would not have gone to trial.
What positive compromise could have been
made?
Students will list their strengths for the role they
are playing
Materials:
Pencil
Journal/Notebook
Case files

Negatives/Weaknes
ses

Negatives/Weaknes
ses
Activity:
Students will right down what they think
their weaknesses are for the role they are
playing
Students will be split into groups and
discuss what went wrong to make the case
go to file.
Materials:
Pencil
Notebook/journal
Case Files

Creative

Creative

Activity:
Students will hold a mock trial using the scripts that
was voted on.
Jobs will be assigned
Materials:
Judges desk
Witness stand
Jury seats
Costumes
Scripts
Paper
Pencils

Thinking About
Thinking

Thinking About
Thinking

Activity:
Students will reflect on what they learned from
the mock trial
How the Judicial Branch works
Is the legal system fair?
What the ruling what they expected?
Materials:
Pencil
Notebook/Journal

ETE 335

Elementary Social Studies Lesson

deBonos Thinking Hats
Visual Learning, Assessment, and
Online Resources:
Assessment:
1.I will assess the students based on how the
mock trial goes
a. Participation
b. Preparedness
c. Presentation

Online Resources:
1. https://delicious.com/nimhus1/CourtCases