Law School for Teens - Introduction to Thinking Like a Lawyer (One Class)

We learn that the legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws.

But we don't go through the process of creating the laws ourselves.

What makes a good law? Are they difficult to write? Is it just a matter of writing down some words and sending them off to be approved? Or is writing a law something that should take a lot of time and energy?

We will run through an activity that will answer all of these questions. Students will work in pairs or groups of three to bounce ideas off of each other and talk through the process of creating a law. By the end of the activity, they will have some insights in just how difficult it might be to write a law.

My class structure revolves around a brief introduction to the activity from me, then the kids are off to work through the activity. We will come back together to discuss their thoughts so far, then I will send them off for the last half of class to write their own law. 

This is an excellent introduction into the world of laws from a perspective you don't receive from a civics class or a history class.

I look forward to seeing you there!