Extension Lesson Plan

New Jersey v T.L.O.

Overview

1. Purpose is to gain a greater understanding of civil and legal rights.

2. Students may connect with this case because it involves a young person.

Questions before the lesson

• Can an administrator search through the purse of a female student? (allow discussion)

• Can a student refuse the search of their belongs? (allow discussion)

Content Area

• Social studies

• Reading

• Language Arts

• Math

Enduring Understanding

• Students’ civil rights is not the same as students’ legal rights.

Lesson One

• Students will read about the case during guided reading instruction.

• Students will discuss the vocabulary with the instructor.

• Students will complete vocabulary sheet independently.

Easiest Reading

• http://www.landmarkcases.org/newjersey/background1.html

Middle Reading

• http://www.landmarkcases.org/newjersey/background2.html

Challenging Reading

• http://www.landmarkcases.org/newjersey/background3.html

Lesson 2

• Start the lesson by asking students to retell their reading. (whole class or guided reading)

• Reflection: Ask students if they felt T.L.O’s legal rights were violated?

• Encourage students to discuss in small groups first.

• Students should support their opinions.

Continue Lesson 2

• The instructor should take informal assessments during these discussions. Students should have a clear understanding of the difference between civil and legal rights.

Continue Lesson 2

• Allow individual students to respond to the discussion question.

• Instructor should again explain the difference between civil and legal rights.

• The instructor can take a poll of the outcome of the court’s decision.

Conclusion Lesson 2

• Graph the results of the class’ opinion.

* Pie Charts

* Bar graphs

* or any other type of graphs covered in class.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

Lesson 3

• Students can listen to some of oral arguments.

http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/275/audioresources

Lesson 3: Ruling

• Lastly, allow students to read the Supreme Court’s ruling.

http://www.landmarkcases.org/newjersey/dissenting.html

Conclusion Lesson 3

• Allow students to discuss how they feel about the ruling.

• Students should support their responses with logically reasoning.