Title: Introduction to Criminal Justice
Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to understand the importance of studying criminal justice, identify key components of the criminal justice system, and engage in a collaborative activity to foster a positive classroom environment.
Materials: - Whiteboard or blackboard - Markers or chalk - Handout with the definition of criminal justice system (optional) - Index cards or small pieces of paper - Pen or pencil for each student
Procedure:
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Introduction (5 minutes) a. Greet the students and introduce yourself as the instructor of the Criminal Justice class. b. Explain the importance of studying criminal justice and how it relates to their lives and society as a whole. c. Share a brief personal anecdote or news story related to criminal justice to capture their interest.
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Icebreaker Activity: “Two Truths and a Lie” (10 minutes) a. Explain the rules of the game: each student will write down two true statements about themselves related to criminal justice and one false statement. b. Collect the index cards or small pieces of paper from the students. c. Shuffle the cards and read each statement aloud, allowing the class to guess which statement is the lie. d. After each round, ask the student who wrote the card to reveal the lie and briefly explain the truth behind the other two statements. e. Encourage students to ask questions or share their thoughts about the statements.
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Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (15 minutes) a. Write the term “Criminal Justice System” on the board. b. Ask students if they have any prior knowledge or ideas about what the criminal justice system entails. c. Provide a brief overview of the criminal justice system, including its purpose, components (law enforcement, courts, corrections), and how they work together. d. If desired, distribute a handout with the definition of the criminal justice system for students to refer to during the discussion. e. Encourage students to ask questions and engage in a class discussion about the topic.
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Class Expectations and Syllabus Overview (5 minutes) a. Discuss the expectations for behavior, participation, and assignments in the class. b. Hand out the syllabus and briefly go over the course objectives, topics, grading criteria, and any important dates. c. Allow time for students to ask questions or seek clarification about the syllabus.
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Conclusion and Reflection (5 minutes) a. Summarize the key points discussed during the lesson. b. Ask students to reflect on what they have learned and share one thing they are looking forward to in the Criminal Justice class. c. Thank the students for their participation and enthusiasm.
Note: The timing for each activity may vary depending on the class dynamics and the level of student engagement. Adjustments can be made accordingly to ensure that all objectives are met within the given time frame.