Teaching students to evaluate the reliability and bias of information sources is one of the most important skills a Social Studies or English teacher can impart upon a student. The ability to assess the reliability of sources on the fly has become an increasingly vital skill in the age of the Internet, with the multiplication of sources available and the creation of click-bait “fake news” sources that deliberately package falsehoods as “news.” This packet contains the following: * A source evaluation Google Form (with answer sheet) for students to evaluate seven different news stories of varied quality. (takes ~45 min.) * A source evaluation paper (including a rubric) that uses peer review to have students analyze sources used in a prior class project: 1. Whether their classmates used a primary or secondary source, 2. Who the author is 3. Who the publisher is 4. Assess sources of bias, and 5. Assess special credentials such as education or experience * A primary source reading/webquest on the U.S. Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision in 2010, followed by 18 questions that link the decision to source reliability, current events and media bias. (Takes about 2-3 hours, can be a sub-plan or homework assignment.) * Eight hyperlinks to graphics that I print and put up in my classroom, and a video I like to use.

Mock trial for class of 12-31 students This mock trial is loosely based upon the facts of the case of Rubin “the Hurricane” Carter, and some of the actual grand jury testimony (modified slightly) in that case is used in this mock trial. I've used this mock trial for standard-level as well as honors-level high school students. Interestingly enough, the standard-level students get into the trial more fervently than the honors kids. Contains: 12 Witness profile sheets and instructions Attorney packets Judge profile sheet Jury worksheet Rubrics Map to Mass. State Social Studies Standards and Common Core Standards This mock trial is an accordion trial: You can do it with as few as a dozen students, and I've done it with as many as 31 students. For trials with small classes, I have drawn my juries from study hall volunteers, a larger “outside audience” which adds an incentive for students in my classes to take the trial seriously. Alternatively, you could just have a bench trial where the judge decides the case. There are certain witnesses that can be eliminated or consolidated for smaller classes, and they are marked as such, and you can adjust the number of attorneys on each side from 1-3 based upon the class size. - Thomas R Eddlem Note: This mock trial is part of my book "Primary Source American History," as are two of my other mock trials. If you like this (or the free readings on my store), consider getting the complete set by ordering the electronic book as well.

Mock trial for class of 15-40 students The scenario is this: Six students engage in an after-prom party where there is some drinking of alcohol and widespread marijuana smoking, and two of the students are involved in a fatal car crash driving home from the party at approximately 3:30 a.m. the following morning. The goals of this mock trial are: 1. to teach students how civil trials work, what joint and several liability is, and what compensatory and punitive damages are. 2. to provide an opportunity to engage the students in a serious and science-based, student-led discussion about impaired driving, specifically driving after consuming marijuana and/or alcohol. Contains: 13 Witness/attorney profile sheets and instructions Common Courtroom Objections reference sheet Jury worksheet Rubrics Map to Mass. State Social Studies Standards and Common Core Standards This mock trial is an accordion trial: You can do it with as few as 15 students, or as many as 40 students. For trials with small classes, I have drawn my juries from study hall volunteers, a larger “outside audience” which adds an incentive for students in my classes to take the trial seriously. Alternatively, you could just have a bench trial where the judge decides the case. Also, you can adjust the number of attorneys on each side from 1-3 based upon the class size. - Thomas R Eddlem

Students take staff roles in the White House to consider two pieces of legislation sent up from Congress (repeal of Obamacare and recognition of a Kurdish government) when they hear news that the North Koreans have crossed the 38th parallel in a military incursion. How will the President react? How does the Constitution limit his reaction? What do the South Koreans want? The idea of this role play simulation is to give students an idea of how the executive branch of the federal government operates in crisis, and it’s a great follow-up to a lesson on establishment of the National Security Council in 1947. It’s set in the current day federal government, where Republicans control the legislative and executive branches of government. And it’s designed to show the importance of staff (because, everyone will want to be the president) in forming executive policy. It’s designed for a class of 10-23 students (optional roles are listed in the instructions). This simulation contains: Detailed teacher instructions 23 profile sheets for students 9 “news” updates to give to selected students during the simulation 2 rubrics for grading writing and participation If you’re lucky, your students won’t start world war three (my kids don’t). But expect at least one of the military officials to propose something like my Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff did recently, calling his proposal the “Walmart Parking Lot Act.” This simulation is designed for students who are relatively mature and have a general idea of the situation on the Korean peninsula, so I only do it with 11th grade and higher. But if you have advanced honors-level sophomores, it might work for them as well. The simulation takes about two class hours. 79 pages total.

Teach civics and the separation of powers by role-playing! This packet includes a criminal mock trial, civil mock trial, mock congress and an Oval Office simulation – simulations on all three branches of government! Contains: Mock Congress: Cell Phone Surveillance Reform Time required: 4 class hours Grade level: 10 and up Class size: 18 or more Pages: 51 Contains: 18 individualized profile sheets, Background information on NSA surveillance, Graphic organizer for assigned roles, Graphic organizer with word-for-word format on how to run committee meetings and floor debate, Sample rubrics for 3-minute speeches and participation, Socratic seminar questions for students observing speeches/committee hearings, Maps to various educational standards, Sample follow-up quiz on the legislative process, Teacher instructions and preparation period suggestions. Mock Trial Criminal: The Tornado (A trial based upon Reuben “The Hurricane” Carter) Time required: 4 class hours Grade level: 10 and up Class size: 9-31 Pages: 43 Contains:12 Witness profile sheets and instructions, Attorney packets, Judge profile sheet, Common courtroom objections reference sheet, Jury worksheet, Rubrics, Map to Mass. State Social Studies Standards and Common Core Standards Mock Trial: The Case of the After-Prom Party Time required: 4 class hours Grade level: 10 and up Class size: 15-40 Pages: 33 Contains:13 Witness/attorney profile sheets and instructions, Common Courtroom Objections reference sheet, Jury worksheet, Rubrics, Map to Mass. State Social Studies Standards and Common Core Standards Oval Office Simulation: North Koreans Cross the DMZ Time required: 2 class hours Grade level: 11 and up Class size: 10-23 Pages: 79 Contains:Detailed teacher instructions, 23 profile sheets for students, 9 “news” updates to give to selected students during the simulation, 2 rubrics for grading writing and participation Zip file with four DOC files. 206 pages total.