Courts in the Classroom
Supreme Court of Indiana
Division of State Court Administration
30 S. Meridian Street, Ste 500
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Dr. Elizabeth R. Osborn
Coordinator for
Public History and
Education Programs
Pho: 317.233.8682
elizabeth.osborn@courts.IN.gov
Sarah Kidwell
Outreach Coordinator
Pho: 317.234.3055
sarah.kidwell@courts.IN.gov
2011 Outstanding Public
History Project Award
from the National Council
on Public History
Lesson Plans & Materials
The following teaching components may contain any or all of three features: (1) a video webcast of an event; (2) one or more lesson plans that meet Indiana's social studies education standards; and (3) supporting materials, such as images, scripted trials, other documents, and online resources. Categories include: Featured Cases, General Lessons, Special Events, and Teacher Training.
| Category | Title | Webcast | Lessons | Materials | Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Training | 2013 Civic Education Workshop Learn about the graphic novels from the National Center for State Court for teaching civic education. |
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| Teacher Training | 2012 Civic Education Workshop Learn about the free web-based resources and games for teaching civic education. iCivics curriculum is aligned with Indiana's social studies standards. |
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| Special Event | Celebrating Black History: the Life and Times of Dred Scott This event will examine the life and case of Dred Scott in which every Justice besides Taney wrote a separate concurrence or dissent. Scott's great-great-granddaughter will also offer her perspective. |
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n/a | |
9-12 |
| General Lesson | Think B4 You Drive A project that focuses on the ramifications of driving under the influence of alcohol and gaining a better understanding of the legal process. |
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9-16 |
| Special Event | My Place is in the Voting Booth: Hoosier Suffragette Helen M. Gougar A reenactment that commemorates a famous 19th century case about women and voting, featuring hoosier suffragette Helen M. Gougar. (Script available for download.) |
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n/a | |
4-12 |
| Special Event Legal History Lecture Series | Accessing Indiana's Past: Isaac Blackford and 19th Century Slavery Cases Showcases the Court's efforts to develop new ways to access information about Indiana 's legal past including: a searchable database of early Indiana cases, dramatic re-enactments about the lives of key figures in Indiana legal history, and a biography series about Indiana lawyers and judges. |
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n/a | |
9-12 |
| Special Event | Ask Me What's Great About America IPS Superintendent Dr. Suellen Reed and Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard address four classes of Indiana students about "What's Great About America." |
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n/a |
K-4 5-8 |
| Special Event | Benjamin Harrison Day A reenactment of the 1871 Ex Parte Milligan case in celebration of Benjamin Harrison Day. Script available for download. |
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4-12 |
| Special Event | Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong A drama that re-enacts aspects of a famous case challenging the prohibition of slavery found in Indiana's 1816 Constitution that was brought on behalf of a young black woman, Polly Strong. |
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n/a | |
4-12 |
| Special Event | Brown v. Board of Education A recreation of the four cases collectively known as Brown v. Board of Education and the historic Supreme Court decision that ended segregation in America's public schools. |
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n/a | |
4-12 |
| Teacher Training | Citizenship & Character: Lessons from American History The seminar's content will provide teachers with materials to help their students meet not only the Civic, History, and Character Education standards for Indiana, but also prepare them to meet federal and state literacy standards. |
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9-12 (for teachers) |
| Special Event | Constitution & Citizenship Day An educational program recognizing national "Constitution & Citizenship Day" including resources on both the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions. |
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5-12 |
| General Lesson | Indiana Government, By the People: Indiana Appellate Courts Sample chapter of a lesson plan booklet published by Purdue University in cooperation with the Indiana Supreme Court |
n/a | |
n/a | 4-8 |
| General Lesson | Indiana Government, By the People: Indiana Trial Courts Sample chapter of a lesson plan booklet published by Purdue University in cooperation with the Indiana Supreme Court |
n/a | |
n/a | 4-8 |
| Special Event | Law Day Find out how to have a Lincoln Birthday Bash in your classroom and get information on FREE lesson plan materials on Lincoln and the Law. |
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K-12 |
| Special Event | Have a Lincoln Birthday Bash! Find out how to have a Lincoln Birthday Bash in your classroom and get information on FREE lesson plan materials on Lincoln and the Law. |
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K-12 |
| Special Event | "A Matter of Justice" A Freetown Village dramatic production highlighting the 1855 anti-slavery Supreme Court case Freeman v. Robinson. |
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4-12 |
| Special Event Legal History Lecture Series | Mendez v. Westminster : "Para Todos Los Niños" School Segregation in the post-Brown Era? This Law Day 2007 Celebration event examines a California school segregation case that predates Brown v. Board of Education. |
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n/a | |
6-12 |
| Teacher Training | Project Citizen: Central Region Institute Watch the "Central Region Institute" video for more information about how to get your class involved in Project Citizen. |
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| Special Event | Reconciling Truth: The Ordeal of Sojourner Truth in Indiana A dramatic production featuring local Indianapolis actors about Sojourner Truth's self-representation and triumph in two criminal trials in Indiana. | |
n/a | |
7-12 |
| Featured Case | Rene v. Reed A case appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court; component includes oral argument webcast, official court documents, and lesson plans focusing on the subject of due process. |
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7-12 |
| Featured Case | Ritter v. Stanton A case appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court; component includes oral argument webcast, official court documents, and lesson plans focusing on the subject of jury trials. |
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7-12 |
| Featured Case | Shah v. Harris A case appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals; component includes oral argument webcast, official court documents, and lesson plans focusing on the subjects of construction of legal arguments, statutes of limitations, and medical malpractice. |
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7-12 |
| General Lesson | Slave Cases and the Indiana Supreme Court Resources for teaching about the Underground Railroad. |
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4-12 |
| General Lesson | The Structure of Indiana Courts An introduction to how Indiana courts work, their structure and processes. |
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4-12 |
| Teacher Training | Summer in the City Learn about an exciting and unique hands-on workshop for teachers to familiarize themselves with the daily operation of Indiana's various courts and to obtain resources for use in teaching about the courts and the law. |
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n/a | |
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| Special Event | The Trial of Susan B. Anthony A recreation, with audience participation, of the 1873 trial of Susan B. Anthony for voting in the Presidential Election in Rochester, NY on November 5, 1872. |
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n/a | |
4-12 |
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