thinkLaw Sample Lessons
thinkLaw – an easy-to-implement critical thinking curriculum based on real-life, legal cases – helps teachers transform any class period into an engaging, culturally responsive space. A space with lots of student agency and student voice without lots of prep time.
I’m a middle school math teacher-turned-attorney who founded thinkLaw 9 years ago, and before we won all these awards and had schools across 42 states partnering with us, we just asked teachers the same thing we’re asking you: TRY IT OUT!
– Colin Seale, Founder & CEO
Intended grade band: K-2
The “Three Blind Mice” doesn’t end well for anyone.
- What would happen if the characters had pressed pause and considered the situation from each other’s perspective?
- What is hard about being a blind mouse?
- What is hard about being a farmer’s wife?
- How were all the characters feeling?
- All of the characters were afraid. How could they have handled their emotions differently? How could that have changed the outcome of the rhyme?
Intended grade band: 3-5
When an individual creates a piece of art, they have a right to legally protect their idea. An artist can copyright their piece. But sometimes art can be tricky. When does something become art?
In 2019 artist Maurizio Cattelan created an art display that he named Comedian. The display was a real banana duct taped to a wall. Another artist named Joe Morford heard about Maurizio’s display. But Joe was upset. Joe thought Maurizio stole his idea!
Thinkers practice asking questions to move from having a gut reaction to having an informed opinion.
Intended grade band: 6-12
One of the first rules we all learn is not to hit. But should you ever be able to hit someone without getting into trouble? Thinkers consider this question as they determine the criteria for a battery.
Thinkers then analyze a lawsuit where a five-year-old boy was sued by his aunt for battery after he pulled out a chair, she fell, and she broke her hip.
Thinkers consider their gut reactions before weighing the elements of battery against the boy’s actions.
Ready to get started?
Fill out a quote request and we’ll get back to you within two business days with a custom quote. thinkLaw curriculum partnerships include a yearly subscription to thinkLaw’s curriculum library of 500+ lessons for K-12th grade students. Subscription packages start at up to 10 teachers, and discounted rates are available for department-wide, school-wide, or district-wide access. Partnerships also include onboarding and implementation support to help teachers fit thinkLaw into their existing schedules and core curriculum, so that closing the critical thinking gap doesn’t feel like “one more thing”.
Check out our book and book study options!
Colin Seale, a teacher-turned-attorney-turned-education-innovator and founder of thinkLaw, uses his unique experience to introduce a wide variety of concrete instructional strategies and examples that teachers can use in all grade levels and subject areas. Individual chapters address underachievement, the value of nuance, evidence-based reasoning, social-emotional learning, equitable education, and leveraging families to close the critical thinking gap.
Move beyond the “why” of equity and learn what it actually looks like in the classroom. This powerful book by bestselling author Colin Seale shows how you can overcome barriers and create sustainable pathways to realizing equity for your students.
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