Lesson Plan : Famous Trial Project

Teacher Name:
 Shannan Gunsett
Grade:
 Grade 11-12
Subject:
 Interdisciplinary

Topic:
 Famous Trials Project
Content:
 History of the United States: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understandingof major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York. Technology: Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs. Language for Information and Understanding: Students will listen, speak, read and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts and ideas; discover relationships, concepts and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English Language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
Goals:
 1. Students will be able to research specific topics in depth using sources other than textbooks. 2. Students will learn how to use specific computer programs and incorporate it into their work. 3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of specific content material. 4. Students will complete a writing assignment to demonstrate knowledge of specific topics. 5. Students will learn how to construct a caption using specific software. 6. Students will perform a clear presentation on a specific topic. 7. Students will express an explicit understanding of a topic through discussion and writings.
Objectives:
 1. Given a web page with numerous links, the students will complete research on "famous trials" in history in conjunction with any other resources. 2. Given precise instructions from the teacher's demonstration, students will learn how to create a caption for their cover page of their Time Magazine. Students will also create a news article, given clear instructions on how to navigate through Microsoft Publisher. 3. Given an overview of the unit of study on the Judicial Branch of Government, students will understand the significance of famous court cases and their affects on us today. Students will be able to explain the trial process and specific outcomes of their topics. 4. Given the different resources via the Internet, the students will demonstrate their knowledge of the content by including an introduction paragraph, background information of the case, outcomes and opinions of the case, the amendments that are upheld or denied in the case, why the trial is significant, and a work cited page. 5. Given the use of computers during class time and a review by the teacher, the student will learn how to create a cover page, including a picture and caption boxes describing the picture. 6. Upon completion of the written assignment, students will be given class time to present their projects clearly and precisely to their peers. Students will explain their topics, articles, and opinions. 7. Given class time to present, students will discuss what they learned from their research, using technology in the classroom, and from each other.
Materials:
 Project Worksheet Computer Access to Internet Access to Microsoft Publisher Red Printer Paper Scissor Glue
Introduction:
 Teacher will introduce the most current trial in the media, the Lacy Peterson case. Teacher will ask students if they are familiar with the Lacy Peterson case. In order to engage the students, the teacher will start a discussion by asking what the outcome was, if it was a fair trial and how we're affected by the outcome. Teacher will briefly review the case and introduce other famous trials, for example, the O.J. Simpson case. Teacher will ask students to name other famous court cases.
Development:
 1. Teacher will review previously learned material on the Judicial Branch of Government with an emphasis on court systems in America and do process under the law. 2. See Introduction. 3. Teacher will hand out famous trial project, after completing a sample famous trial project. 4. Students and teacher will read instructions aloud. Teacher will explain the proper steps in completing this project. 5. Teacher will instruct students on how to use the webpage, Microsoft Publisher and how to create the Time Magazine covers. 6. In the computer lab, students will complete step number 3 on their project worksheet. 7. After familiarizing with different topics, students will choose a court case to research and gain approval from teacher. 8. Once teacher approves topic, students will use Microsoft Publisher to create the newsletter portion of the project (Computer Lab for two weeks). 9. Upon completion of the newsletter project, students will create a Time Magazine cover (see project worksheet). 10. Students will hand in completed assignment, which contains a newsletter, title page and works cited page. 11. Students will present to the whole class, their research on the chosen topic 12. Teacher will address any important concepts addressed throughout the lesson.
Practice:
 1. Teacher will review aloud, material learned on the Judicial Branch of Government. 2. Teacher will, step-by-step, demonstrate a sample project, including the navigation of Microsoft Publisher and constructing a title page. 3. Given a Web site with a list of famous trials, students will choose topics that are interesting to them. Teacher will walk around monitoring the students' research. 4. Together, students and teacher will read instructions aloud.
Accommodations:
 Teacher will provide differentiated instruction based on students' needs if necessary.
Checking For Understanding:
 Teacher will include, on the project worksheet, a rubric for the assignment. On the worksheet, teachers asks for specific information to be included in the article that will show students' knowledge of their topic. Students' will also present their projects to the class. Teacher will ask students to reflect on the overall project and what they learned from it.
Closure:
 Teacher will allow the class to discuss each other's topics, including opinions and how it affects us today. Students can debate the topics.
Evaluation:
 Teacher will measure students' progressed based on Performance-Assessment. Student should be able to create a cover page using Microsoft Publisher, including a picture, the title of the magazine, a caption describing the picture, and a textbox with a brief description of the enclosed article and author. Student will demonstrate knowledge by writing a newsletter, including an introduction paragraph, the background information of the case, the courts decision, the majority and dissenting opinions, the amendments that upheld or denied in the case, why the trial is or is not important, and opinion section, and a work cited page. The student presentations will also reflect the knowledge of the topic researched.
Teacher Reflections:
 The lesson was a success. Students demonstrated deep knowledge of their chosen topics and showed great interest when doing so. Students continued to discuss and debate their topics following the completion of the project.

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