Educational Resources

ABCs of the Rule of Law

This activity asks students to provide rule of law words for each letter of the alphabet. When all letters have been completed, the teacher may ask students to look for common themes that reflect key principles of the rule of law. Teachers may choose to use this activity as a springboard for discussing the rule of law or as a review.

Defining the Rule of Law

In this activity, the teacher and visiting lawyer will guide students in defining the rule of law as the basis of a free and open society. Students will be asked to write a definition of the rule of law on a post-it note as they enter the classroom. They will then view The Law Rules video and compare their notes to what Erica discusses in the video.

Rule of Law Posters

What Do the Words Really Mean?

This activity takes an abstract concept, “the rule of law,” and approaches it word by word, drawing on students’ prior knowledge of what the individual words mean to arrive at an understandable and practical definition of this often misunderstood phrase. In the end, the activity serves as a springboard for a larger discussion of the rule of law as the foundation for all of our democratic ideals and institutions.

Lady Justice

This activity analyzes the image of Lady Justice. Why is she blindfolded? What do the scales represent? Why is there a globe to her right? How do her image and the observations the students make embody the basic principles of
the rule of law?

Rule of Law Learning Circles

Learning circles place students in two concentric circles of equal numbers. The inner circle contains commentators facilitated by the teacher, and the outer circle consists of recorders/observers facilitate by the visiting lawyer. Commentators will discuss The Law Rules video and the observers will look for key ideas, issues, concepts, and questions.

Concept Connections

This activity works well with Social Studies/English interdisciplinary classes. Students will examine the various ideals and principles associated with the rule of law by completing a “Concept Connections” grid under the direction of the teacher and visiting lawyer.

Rule of Law Banners

Students will work individually to create a “Rule of Law” banner expressing the values, principles, and ideas important to the concept of the “rule of law.” In doing so, the students will demonstrate knowledge of the foundation of American constitutional government by explaining the fundamental principle of the rule of law.

Contemporary Justice

Students will examine primary documents, specifically Bush Administration Department of Justice memos on approved interrogation techniques for suspected terrorists and President Obama's response to their release, to determine if the rule of law is being fairly applied to a specific situation. The teacher and visiting lawyer will guide the discussion.

What is the Rule of Law?

This lesson is designed to help the teacher and the legal volunteer instruct students on defining the rule of law and the differences between our system of laws and that of other countries. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by explaining the fundamental principles of the rule of law.

Rights and the Rule of Law

This activity is geared towards having the teacher and visiting legal volunteer to involve students in a discussion about the relationship between “personal rights” and the rule of law. Students will complete a chart looking at the meaning and importance of rights provided by the Constitution.

Using the Media to Teach the Rule of Law

Students will select a variety of media documents (i.e. political cartoons, current event, song, or magazine article) to discuss the rule of law and its relationship to good citizenship. The teacher and visiting lawyer will guide the discussion.

Truancy Debate Activity

A Virginia legislator wants to address the serious problem of truancy in Hilltown's public schools. We have left the format of the lesson open to the educator, be it debate, role play, or class discussion. The necessary elements of the situation are provided, as well as pros and cons to the proposed law.

Rule of Law Quizmaster

What Rights are Guaranteed by the Bill of Rights? and Who said it? Quizmasters will be constructed from handouts. Students can then quiz one another about the Amendments and quotes concerning justice, fairness, stability, and equality. Special thanks to John Koehler for this activity.

Rights Quizmaster

Quotes Quizmaster

Rule of Law & National Security Mock Hearing

You are a congressional committee advising the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on May 1, 2025. Over the course of the past several years, the Agency has seen a rise in the occurrence of both domestic and international terrorism. With increasing frequency, the groups responsible for this terrorist activity have sought to recruit United States citizens to join their organizations and engage in violent terrorist activity within the United States.

Challenges of Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses

This is adapted from a program created by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert S. Ballou. The following activity exposes students to the timely issue of sexual misconduct on college campuses. While not every student will attend college, every student should understand their personal rights protected by the Bill of Rights.

Activity Rubric