Courts and Government for Youth & Young Adults

Learning on the Federal Judiciary

Annenberg Classroom
Annenberg Classroom Website

Annenberg Classroom provides a comprehensive, multimedia curriculum on the Constitution. The site has free classroom resources which include videos, games, lesson plans and timelines as well as their popular Annenberg Guide to the Constitution, which provides the original text and then explains it in plain language. These materials are provided to equip middle and high school teachers with the tools to create informed citizens who understand their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Constitution.

Visit annenbergclassroom.org  

iCivics
iCivics.org Website

Civics was founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2009 to ensure that all Americans have the knowledge and will to participate in our unique experiment in self-government. iCivics first-of-its-kind digital civic library includes more than 260 curricular resources, digital literacy tools, professional learning materials, and educational video games. And behind those numbers lie countless young people who now feel the weight of their civic roles and agency.

Visit iCivics.org  

Constituting America
ConstitutingAmerica.org Website

Constituting America's mission is to utilize the culture and multi-media outreach such as music, film, internet and social media, to educate, engage and inspire America's adults and students about the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the foundation it sets forth regarding our freedoms and rights.

Visit ConstitutingAmerica.org  

Interactive Constitution
Interactive Constitution - constitutioncenter.org Website

Learn about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives.

Visit ConstitutionCenter.org  

Discovering Justice
Discovering Justice Website

Discovering Justice envisions a society in which everyone is well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and desire to build and sustain an equitable democracy.

Discovering Justice bring students and communities together to examine the workings of the justice system, explore the ideals of justice, and prepare them to engage in our democracy.

Visit DiscoveringJustice.org  

U.S. Courts - Educational Resources

Get informed. Get involved. Get inspired. Find realistic simulations and memorable, interactive approaches to court basics that include comparing federal and state courts.

Visit USCourts.gov  

U.S. Courts - Federal Courts & the Public

The work of the federal courts impacts the lives of the American public in many ways. This page discusses the most common ways people interact with the U.S. Courts.

Visit USCourts.gov  

U.S. Courts - Understanding the Federal Judicial System

A comprehensive guide to understanding the federal judicial system, its organization and administration, and its relationship to the legislative and executive branches of the government

Visit USCourts.gov  

FBA Federal Court Basics

Learn about the federal courts through a series of infographics handouts, videos, and informative links provided by the Federal Bar Association.

Visit FedBar.org  

FJC - Inside the Federal Courts

One of the Federal Judicial Center's duties is to teach federal court employees about how the courts work, how they are organized, and how they fit into the U.S. system of government. The FJC developed this site as an easy reference to help court employees understand aspects of the federal courts outside of their specific responsibilities. This information may also help students, the media, and the public learn more about the federal courts.

Visit FJC.gov  

FJC - Talking Points on Federal Judicial History

This module was developed by the Federal Judicial Center to support judges and court staff who want to speak to various groups about the history of an independent federal judiciary. It focuses on the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the establishment of the judicial branch of government.

Visit FJC.gov  

FJC - State and Federal Jurisdiction

Animated video detailing the difference between federal and state courts, how federal courts are organized, and how it is determined which cases go to each court.

Visit FJC.gov  

Judicial Learning Center

Student e-learning center focused on role and organization of federal courts, along with landmark cases.

Visit JudicialLearningCenter.org  

Library of Congress Family Engagement

Resources for family engagement, inspired by the collections, programs, and expertise of the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. The Library preserves and provides access to a rich, diverse and enduring source of knowledge to inform, inspire and engage you in your intellectual and creative endeavors.

Visit loc.gov  

FBA Elementary School Resources

Ready-to-go resources for a mock trial based on the story of The Three Little Pigs from the perspective of the Wolf.

Visit FedBar.org  

Virtual Tour of the State House

A virtual tour of the Massachusetts State House featuring large panoramic images and an interactive learning experience.

The magnificent setting of state government for over two centuries, the Massachusetts capitol is also a museum reflecting the history of the Commonwealth since colonial times. This tour describes nine historic spaces and highlights paintings, sculpture, artifacts, and decorative arts commemorating the people and events that helped to shape the Commonwealth and nation.

Visit MALegislature.gov  

Bill of Rights Institute Student Hub

The Bill of Rights Institute has thousands of resources and dozens of opportunities to support history and civics students.

Visit BillofRightsInstitute.org  

Teacher Resources

The Civics Renewal Network

The Civics Renewal Network is a consortium of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations committed to strengthening civic life in the U.S. by increasing the quality of civics education in our nation’s schools and by improving accessibility to high-quality, no-cost learning materials. On the Civics Renewal Network site, teachers can find the best resources of these organizations, searchable by subject, grade, resource type, standards, and teaching strategy.

Additional resources can be found on sites of partners with The Civics Renewal Network here.

Visit CivicsRenewalNetwork.org  

iCivics - Teachers

iCivics for teachers provides free lesson plans, infographics, games, and other resources to introduce your students to new civics topics, as well as practice much-needed visual literacy skills.

Visit iCivics.org  

Center for Innovation in Legal Education (YouTube)

A center at the S.J. Quinney College of Law dedicated to improving legal education through research.

Visit YouTube.com  

FBA Classroom Ready Civic Education Resources

Judges and lawyers can find courtroom-ready and classroom-ready activities and resources geared to high school and middle school students. Preparation takes judges and lawyers 30 minutes or less. Activities are organized by time available with audiences — from 15 minutes to three hours.

Visit FedBar.org  

C-SPAN Classroom

Free video-based materials for teachers.

Visit C-SPAN.org  

Accessing Education Resources - USA.gov

Find government information on education including primary, secondary, and higher eduction.

Visit USA.gov  

Mass.gov Learning

From preschool to college and beyond, Massachusetts offers quality education options for all.

Visit Mass.gov