mock trials? opinion

I want a good hook to start my mock trial unit with my 6th graders this year. In the past I've used a small clip of Atticus Finch's closing statement in To Kill a Mockiingbird to do a persuasive argument lesson. Now that there is YouTube and all these other video on demand services I was wondering if anyone knows of anything age appropriate that I could show to 6th grade? I even thought maybe a funny Judge Judy? They all watch at home anyway. Please weigh in with your thoughts :)

Re: mock trials? opinion

There is a group, or a partnership of lawyers who come to your school to do a mock Goldilocks trial. Our school did this last year with the 5th grade and it was a HUGE success....even made Channel 55 news. If you google Mock trial or Goldilocks trial, hopefully something will come up. If you can't find anything and are interested, FM me and I will get the info from the teachers in my school.

Re: mock trials? opinion

thanks! I would love that info if you can find it out... I just did a google search and the only people I come up with is a group called Harter, Secrest and Emery, but they'er in Rochester, so I'm pretty sure that's not who you're talking about :)

Re: mock trials? opinion

Do you have access to United Streaming? There is a great trial on there "We the Jury" about a teenager who bought a "hot" stereo. I used that to introduce mock trials to my 6th graders last year, and then we did a "Fairly Tale on Trial", they picked Hansel & Gretel.