This book is part of the Interactive Discovery-Based Units for High-Ability Learners series, for grades 6-8, which provides teachers with opportunities to use exciting and challenging units in their classrooms. Order in the Court: A Mock Trial Simulation gives students the opportunity to conduct a trial based on a classic fairytale in order to develop their courtroom skills. After developing the necessary vocabulary, students participate in the trial of Ms. Petunia Pig v. Mr. B. B. Wolf. Students not only learn the concepts, but they also learn valuable teamwork and time management skills. The unit culminates in a full mock-trial enactment. Grades 6-8

Mock trials help students gain a basic understanding of the legal mechanism through which society chooses to resolve many of its disputes. Participation in mock trials helps students to understand better the roles that the various actors play in the justice system. This handbook explains how to prepare for and conduct mock trials in the classroom and introduces simplified rules of evidence and includes a sample judging form.

This book is premised on the assumption that games and simulations provide welcome alternatives and supplements to traditional lectures and class discussions—especially in political science classrooms, where real-world circumstances provide ideal applications of theory and policy prescriptions. Implementing such an active learning program, however, is sometimes daunting to overburdened professors and teaching assistants. This book addresses the challenges of using games and simulations in the political science classroom, both online and in person. Each chapter offers a game or simulation that politics teachers can use to teach course concepts and explains ways to execute it effectively. In addition, the authors in this volume make a proactive case for games and simulations. Each chapter offers research to evaluate the effectiveness of the activity and pedagogical design best practices. Thus, the book not only serves as a game design resource, but also offers demonstrable support for using games and simulations in the political science classroom. Aimed at teachers at all levels, from high school through college, the book may be especially appealing to graduate students entering teaching for the first time and open to new teaching and learning approaches.

The Interactive Discovery-Based Units for High-Ability Learners, for grades 6-8, provide teachers with opportunities to deliver content in exciting new contexts. These engaging curriculum units culminate in real-world activities that provide students with open-ended opportunities to demonstrate academic understanding. Each book in the series contains tiered lessons that teachers can easily modify to meet individual students' needs. What's Your Opinion? uses debate to extend students' abilities to analyze and interpret informational texts, strengthen students' reading strategies and fluency, and help students develop persuasive speaking and writing skills. Grades 6-8

Provides resources for teaching elementary and secondary school students about Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America.

Enrichment Activities for Gifted Students outlines a variety of extracurricular academic activities and programming options for gifted student talent development. This book: Includes strategies for educators to develop enrichment programs that fit the needs of their students. Provides numerous examples of nationally-recognized and easy-to-implement programs and competitions. Helps promote students' academic growth. Categorizes options by subject area, including math, science, technology, language arts, and social studies. Categorizes options by skill type, including creative thinking, problem solving, and adaptability. Enrichment Activities for Gifted Students provides everything busy educators need to know about offering, funding, and supporting enrichment activities and programs that develop students' content knowledge and expertise, build valuable real-world skills, and extend learning beyond the walls of the classroom.