TITLE:   AN INTRODUCTION TO LAW

AUTHOR:  DAVE SNOOK; McNary High School, Salem, OR

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:   9-12; Youth and the Law or
                       American Government

PURPOSE:
THIS ACTIVITY IS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE THE WIDE RANGE EFFECT
LAW HAS ON CITIZENS DAILY. THIS LESSON ALSO INTRODUCES THE
TYPES OF LAW DEALT WITH IN THIS SECTION OF THE COURSE.
THOUGH IT IS MEANT AS AN INTRODUCTORY LESSON, IT CAN EASILY
BE EXPANDED.

OBJECTIVE(S):  STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
1. IDENTIFY CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL LAW, CONSUMER LAW, FAMILY
   LAW.
2. GIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW LAWS AFFECT CITIZENS ON A DAILY
   BASIS.
3. UNDERSTAND THAT LAWS NOT ONLY LIMIT CITIZENS BUT OFFER
   PROTECTION AS WELL.
4. GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND
   INTERNATIONAL LAWS.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
COPIES OF CURRENT NEWSPAPER (LOCAL PREFERRED)

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
STUDENTS MAY WORK COOPERATIVELY OR IN SMALL GROUPS FOR THIS
ACTIVITY. ABILITY, RESOURCES AND TIME WILL DETERMINE THIS.
1.  WRITE ON THE BOARD OR OVERHEAD THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
    CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, CONSUMER
    LAW, HOUSING LAW, FAMILY LAW, JUVENILE LAW, STATE,
    FEDERAL, LOCAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.

2.  LEAD THE STUDENTS IN A DISCUSSION OF THE ABOVE TYPES
    OF LAW AND HAVE THEM TAKE NOTES FOR THE NEXT
    ACTIVITY.

3.  GIVE EACH STUDENT OR GROUP A C0PY OF THE DAILY
    NEWSPAPER. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME EDITION.

4.  ASSIGN EACH STUDENT OR GROUP A PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER.
    THEY ARE TO READ AN ARTICLE FROM THAT PAGE AND
    IDENTIFY HOW LAW IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARTICLE AND
    WHAT TYPES OF LAW THE ARTICLE IS DEALING WITH.

5.  GIVE EACH STUDENT OR GROUP ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO
    READ THE ARTICLE AND DISTINGUISH THE TYPE OF LAW
    WHICH APPLIES TO THIS ARTICLE AND WHAT TYPE OF
    CITIZENS ARE MOST AFFECTED.

6.  AT THIS TIME HAVE EACH STUDENT OR A SPOKESMAN FROM
    EACH GROUP PRESENT TO THE CLASS A SUMMARY OF THEIR
    ARTICLE AND THE TYPES AND EFFECTS OF LAW. SINCE EACH
    STUDENT HAS A PAPER, THEY CAN EXAMINE THE PAGE BEING
    DISCUSSED. HAVE THE CLASS COMMENT ON ARTICLE AND ADD
    THEIR CONCLUSIONS.

7.  I SUGGEST YOU TRY TO ASSIGN A FULL PAGE OF
    ADVERTISING TO A STUDENT AND SEE IF THEY PROTEST THAT
    NO ARTICLES ON LAW EXIST. OFTEN TIMES SMALL PRINT
    ABOUT INTEREST, PAYMENTS OR OTHER PRODUCT LIMITATIONS
    ARE PRESENT AND PROVIDE GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT
    CONSUMER LAW.
8.  IF ONE OR MORE TYPES OF LAW ARE NOT DISCUSSED IN THE
    ACTIVITY, YOU MAY SET UP A CONTEST TO SEE WHICH GROUP
    CAN FIND AN ARTICLE WITH THAT TYPE OF LAW FIRST.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
AS A CULMINATING ACTIVITY, YOU MAY HAVE STUDENTS WRITE AN
EXAMPLE OF EACH OF THE TYPES OF LAW  DISCUSSED IN CLASS. YOU
COULD ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH A GIVEN SET OF ARTICLES AND
HAVE THEM IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF LAW.
STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE WIDESPREAD
EFFECT OF LAW AND THE VARIETY OF LAWS THAT WE ALL ARE
SUBJECT TO.