Simulations can be a very effective way to engage students in their learning. On February 25, 2002 Education World conducted an interview with Board Certified teacher Max Fischer about simulations that he uses in his own social studies classrooms. Fischer has also written several books on simulations.
He uses simulations because he believes that "Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has enlightened many educators to the different learning strengths various students bring with them...we tend to forget that affective and psycho-motor (or tactile) areas of learning are worthy avenues to pursue with most students."
A mock trial is a fun and interactive way to make learning come alive in the social studies secondary classroom. While mock trials might at first seem intimidating to organize and facilitate in your classroom, they can be made easy with a little bit of planning and some already created trials that can be incorporated into your classroom with little modification.
An obvious setting for a mock trial is in the government or civics classroom. First, decide what unit you want to use the mock trial activity in. In the government classroom the logical place is in the judicial unit. Next you have to pick a case.
Picking a Case
There are a lot of good mock trial resources on the Internet, but among the best is the Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education. This site provides very well organized and comprehensive cases. Cases range from domestic abuse, search and seizure in lockers, bringing weapons to school, and car accidents. The cases include definitions of relevant laws, witness statements, and other relevant evidence. The Minnesota Center for Community Education also provides a script for lawyers, judges and bailiffs, as well as supplementary materials for lawyers, jury, and judge.
Assign Roles
Once you’ve picked out your case, it’s time to assign roles. Teams of 2-3 lawyers for each side work well. You will need one person to be the judge. An odd number of 9-13 can be your jurors. Additional roles include sketch artists and reporters. Sketch artists can create pictures of pre-trial and trial work. Reporters can interview lawyers working with their witnesses and write feature articles or editorials on the trial itself.
Scheduling Your Trial
Introducing the trial and assigning roles typically takes one class period. Lawyers typically need one to two class periods to meet with their witnesses and create their opening and closing statements. The trial itself takes two days; one day for each side. The jury deliberation typically takes less then thirty minutes.
Successful Trial Tips
To pull off a successful trial you will need to keep a few things in mind.
Make sure that everyone has something that they can be working on, particularly during pre-trial work time. The lawyers, witnesses, and media will have plenty of pre-trial work to do.
The only additional resources you might consider putting together are extra work for the jury and judge. Suggested activities include giving the judge and jury a reading on their role in the courtroom, and having them create a poster on that material. You could also give the jury a description of a real or fictional case and have them practice deliberating. You might also need an extra activity for the class to do while the jury is deliberating, but this can be as simple as a written reflection on the trial itself.
Another useful tip is not to let either of the lawyer teams create extra evidence. If you allow this, they can easily manipulate evidence in their favor. And, on occasion, lawyers might get carried away and try to introduce inappropriate for school things into the trial.
The Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education has put together an excellent mock trial resource for government teachers. They make it easy to incorporate mock trials into your curriculum and your classroom. Plus, because students get to role play and really and truly think and strategize on their feet, this is an activity that will be remembered for years to come.
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