Justice Teaching Center Sample Lessons
The Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning provides a variety of lessons and activities to use with your classroom partnerships. The materials are divided by grade level and aligned with the state civics and government standards. We have posted a sampling of featured lessons below. We also have a large collection of additional lessons you can request, depending on the topic or benchmark you are presenting and the grade level.
All volunteers are required to participate in training prior to classroom visits.
Contact apitts@flsouthern.edu to request training or to secure other lessons addressing specific topics or content areas.
Review each lesson carefully, along with all associated handouts, PowerPoint slides, and other resources. Remember to discuss the lesson or activity with the teacher in advance so they can approve the content and strategies.
It is important to be engaging with the students. Walk around the room and be friendly and conversational with all grade levels. Ask questions and have small group interactions, depending on the exercise.
It is critical not to bring partisan influences or biases into the classroom. Be fair and impartial in your presentations and help students build confidence and strengthen their own critical thinking skills.
Recorded training sessions may also be available to walk volunteers through the instructional delivery process.
For information or further instructions on implementing any specific activity, please contact apitts@flsouthern.edu.
Rules, Rules, Rules
This elementary lesson should be implemented at the beginning of the academic year to establish the importance of rules in a classroom environment, as well as in our governmental system. A game format is used to help students learn about the importance of rules in an engaging way.
Elementary Roadmap
What may happen if we didn’t have any rules or laws? This activity will help elementary students explore the rule of law and the three branches of government.
Are Animals Allowed?
How are rules like laws? In this exercise, students will explore a hypothetical rule and determine its meaning. Students will be presented with a variety of scenarios to determine if the rule has been violated. The rules will be evaluated to determine the purpose of the rule and whether they would recommend any changes.
Judicial Bingo
Answer as many questions on the sheet as you can individually. Then, at your table, discuss the topics in each box with others and as a full class.
Where do you stand?
Teaching about current issues provides students with opportunities to practice critical thinking, persuasive speaking, civil discussion techniques, and listening skills.
Civics Match Up Lesson
In this activity, students will be introduced to questions on the United States naturalization test for prospective U.S. citizens through an engaging matching game.
Florida v. J.L.
Florida v. JL is a Fourth Amendment case study from the U.S. Supreme Court. The case begins in our state courts and advances to the United States Supreme Court to determine if an anonymous tip is sufficient for a law enforcement officer to stop and frisk an individual. Case studies teach students constitutional principles, the structure, function, and jurisdiction of the courts, critical thinking, legal reasoning, and more.
Florida Courts Scavenger Hunt
The Florida Legislature website defines the Florida Constitution as an organized system of fundamental principles for the government of the state. It is of a permanent and general nature and originates from the people rather than from the Legislature.
Quoting the Case
Analyze the significance and outcomes of landmark Supreme Court cases.
Walking Through a Trial
This activity introduces the legal process and how a case progresses through the state or federal courts.
Constitution Week materials are updated annually and are available for elementary, middle, and high school levels. You can also receive pocket Constitutions for distribution during your presentation. Contact apitts@flsouthern.edu
Florida civics and government standards are available for all grade levels. To distinguish these from previous versions, the benchmarks include CG instead of C in their coding.
K-12 Civics and Government State Standards
The latest statewide assessment results for the middle school Civics and US History EOC exams are available at the link below. You can review district comparisons and school data from the most recent assessment administration.
2026 FLDOE Civics and US History Statewide Assesment Results
Justice R. Fred Lewis (Retired) created the original Justice Teaching program in 2006. Some of the original materials from that inaugural program are housed at Florida Southern College.
For information or to access any of the original materials, please contact apitts@flsouthern.edu.