Living The Law By Learning The Law

This curriculum guide is designed to assist teachers at all levels in their efforts to infuse law-related education (lre) into their regular course of instruction. The curriculum goals are (1) to promote good citizenship through an understanding of and active participation in a democratic society; (2) to foster respect, understanding, and appreciation of diversity; (3) to develop, improve and integrate thinking and interpersonal skills; and (4) to increase knowledge of and insights into the personal relevance of law and the Constitution. The first part of the guide provides a framework for organizing and selecting (lre) activities based on concepts of power, justice, liberty, and equality. The guide presents teaching strategies appropriate to lre including case studies, mock trials, resource persons, role playing, simulations, and various games. Lesson plans are divided into levels--lower and upper elementary, middle, and high school--and provide concepts, rationale, objectives, materials, procedures, and assessment. Many of the lesson plans include handouts for student activities and some include primary documents such as the Constitution of Virginia. The appendix includes a copy of the United States Constitution. (Jd).