Street Law’s Top Resources of 2024

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“Most lessons that I use in [my] class are based on the Street Law materials …. The Supreme Court decisions are extremely popular in my class, and we use them in a variety of different ways from basic analysis to “law firm” simulations to Moot Courts (which are probably their favorite activity). These lessons are not only engaging but relevant to their concerns and what is happening in the real world. My class would not be as successful, popular, or entertaining without the fantastic resources that Street Law provides.”

Randi Warren, Social Studies Teacher
Patriot High School, Nokesville, VA

Street Law, Inc.’s Resource Library serves as an invaluable hub for social studies educators, offering over 800 free, high-quality resources on topics related to law, government, and civics. In 2024, teachers downloaded these materials more than 80,000 times—a testament to their relevance in classrooms nationwide.

To kick off the new year, Street Law is showcasing its top five most downloaded resources, the go-to materials that teachers count on to spark student engagement and critical thinking.

Also featured are the staff’s top five picks. These favorites, selected by the experts on Street Law’s curriculum development team, include innovative resources that help facilitate conversations on contested issues and challenge learners to view the world through new perspectives.

Whether for experienced educators or those new to civic education, these resources are crafted to enrich instruction and captivate students.


Top 5 Most Downloaded Resources of 2024

5. Trump v. United States (2024)

A landmark case that captured global attention, the case materials on Trump v. United States were Street Law’s fifth most downloaded resources in 2024. This U.S. Supreme Court case addressed a pivotal question: Does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during their tenure in office?

This resource includes a Case Summary that was reviewed by legal and educational experts. It is complemented by Classifying Arguments and Unmarked Opinions case study activities, designed to deepen students’ understanding of the case while honing their analytical and critical thinking skills. 

** Bonus Resource! Trump v. United States was also the focus of a popular Street Law webinar featuring guest experts from both sides of the aisle.**


4. Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021)

Years after it was decided, Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. continues to rank among Street Law’s most popular resources, taking the fourth spot on the list. This case remains a classroom favorite for its groundbreaking exploration of student rights and free speech in the digital age and its relevance to students’ daily lives.

In this case, the justices grappled with the following question: Does the precedent set by Tinker v. Des Moines apply to student speech that occurs off campus?

Mahanoy v. B.L. comes ready to drag and drop into the classroom with expert-reviewed Case Summaries at both high school and middle school levels. Classifying Arguments, Applying Precedents, and Deliberation activities are also included for deeper case exploration.


3. Classroom Guide to Moot Courts

The Classroom Guide to Moot Courts has climbed the rankings this year, earning a well-deserved spot at number three. This comprehensive 10-lesson guide provides a detailed framework for conducting appellate court and Supreme Court simulations in the classroom, immersing students in the complexities of judicial decision-making.

From understanding court systems to granting cert to judicial opinion writing, students deepen their understanding of the appellate process while honing their analytical and public speaking skills. This resource is a perfect way to expose students to the workings of the Supreme Court in a flexible, interactive format.


2. Required SCOTUS Cases for AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam

For the second consecutive year, the Required SCOTUS Cases for AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam has claimed the number two spot on the list. This essential resource remains a go-to for AP U.S. Government and Politics teachers, providing a streamlined, all-in-one guide to the required Supreme Court cases covered on the exam.

From landmark decisions like Marbury v. Madison to influential modern rulings such as Citizens United v. FEC, this resource offers concise summaries that illuminate foundational principles of American government and politics. Its clarity, organization, and enduring relevance make it an invaluable tool for educators and students preparing for success on the AP exam and beyond.

**Bonus resource! Check out this handy list of Street Law summaries of potential comparison cases to help your students practice for the SCOTUS Comparison Free Response Question on the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam!**


1. Classroom Guide to Mock Trials

Securing the top spot once again in 2024, the Classroom Guide to Mock Trials continues to be a favorite among educators. This comprehensive 11-lesson resource equips teachers with everything needed to create dynamic courtroom simulations, guiding students through each step of the trial process.

With mock trials of varying complexity—simple, moderate, and challenging—the guide is adaptable for learners at all levels. It fosters critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork, helping students build essential skills while exploring the justice system in a hands-on, engaging way. By transforming abstract legal concepts into real-world applications, mock trials have become a cornerstone of civic education.


Top 5 Staff Picks of 2024 (In no particular order)

Socratic Seminar: The Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors (High School)

Selected by Cathy Ruffing, Senior Program Director, Teacher Professional Development & Curriculum and Co-Author of Street Law: A Course in Practical Law.

This high-school-level resource equips teachers to facilitate a Socratic Seminar discussion on the historic 1884 case The Queen (Regina) v. Dudley and Stephens.

Central to the case is the question: Is necessity a defense for a crime? Through this activity, students explore primary source texts and engage in thoughtful dialogue about morality, law, and punishment, tackling one of history’s most provocative legal dilemmas.

Why Cathy recommends it: This Socratic Seminar is perfect for a law elective course because it requires students to think deeply about the relationship between morality and the law, the purpose of laws and punishment, and when necessity should be a valid defense for an otherwise illegal action.

See all Street Law Socratic Seminars.


Resistance, Resilience, and Reconciliation Inquiry Pack

Selected by Jen Wheeler and Cathy Ruffing, Senior Program Directors, Teacher Professional Development & Curriculum.

This resource complements the Native American Legal History timeline on LegalTimelines.org.

The Inquiry Pack centers primary sources from the Library of Congress and other collections and guides students through an exploration of an essential question: How does the history of Native American resistance, resilience, and reconciliation help us “know America”?

Why Jen recommends it: This resource gives students a chance to explore the many dimensions of Native American agency throughout history, while also grappling with some fascinating primary sources, including a source written by a teenager, Nyché Andrew, who authored an essay titled “What is Resilience?”.

Why Cathy recommends it: This resource offers an important and powerful perspective on Native Americans and their history. It was created at the suggestion of our Teacher Amicus Group, which piloted the Native American Legal History timeline and inquiry packs. Recognizing resistance and resilience as central themes in the courses they teach, the group identified the need for this Inquiry Pack to help students understand and explore these key concepts.

Learn more about Street Law’s curriculum development approach for the Native American Legal History timeline. 


Socratic Seminar: Colonial Resistance (Elementary School)

Selected by Jen Wheeler, Senior Program Director, Teacher Professional Development & Curriculum.

Part of Street Law’s growing collection for elementary educators, this resource helps lower grade teachers facilitate a Socratic Seminar on colonial resistance. It includes age-appropriate hooks, text resources, and questions to engage younger students in meaningful discussion.

Why Jen recommends it: This Socratic Seminar features two images: “Burning of the Peggy Stewart” and “The Fatal Stamp,” both of which depict acts of colonial resistance leading up to the Revolutionary War. Seminar questions ask students to interpret the images, compare and contrast the acts depicted in the images, and ultimately to reflect on the impact of acts of resistance.

See all Street Law Socratic Seminars.


School Cellphone Policy Deliberation (High School)

Selected by Ati Waldman, Senior Education & Training Specialist.

This high-school-level deliberation tackles a timely question: Should schools ban all cellphone use during school hours?

Street Law Deliberations help teachers guide students through collaborative discussions of contested issues, encouraging them to consider multiple perspectives and search for consensus.

Why Ati recommends it: This deliberation is a great way to give students an opportunity to think through a problem that directly impacts their daily lives by discussing the pros and cons of banning cell phones in schools. The deliberation could even be used to help engage students, teachers, school administrators, and the wider community as part of a collaborative decision-making process on a challenging and pressing school policy issue.

See all Street Law Deliberations.


All Socratic Seminars (but especially those co-created with teachers)

Selected by Ati Waldman, Senior Education & Training Specialist.

Sometimes it is hard to pick just one favorite! That is why Ati recommends the resources in Street Law’s newest collection of Socratic Seminars. Working directly with teachers on curriculum development is one way that Street Law helps ensure its materials focus on the topics teachers both want and need to teach.

The Socratic Seminar topics developed with teachers this year include:

Why Ati recommends it: This new set of Socratic Seminar resources were created in partnership with our Street Law teachers and includes a variety of resources designed to help students think deeply about current and contested issues that will align to topics commonly found in course standards. With these seminars, elementary students can examine what makes a law just or school cell phone policies; middle school students can grapple with issues of free speech in schools or the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation; and high school students can consider the role of gender in China’s Cultural Revolution or the role of Reparations of African Americans.

See all Street Law Socratic Seminars.


Street Law’s Resource Library is rich with curricular resources that make complex legal and civic concepts accessible, relevant, and engaging for students. From landmark Supreme Court cases to interactive mock trials and thought-provoking Socratic Seminars, these tools equip teachers to cultivate critical thinking, build civic knowledge, and nurture meaningful dialogue in their classrooms.

New resources are added throughout the year, so teachers are encouraged to make visiting the Resource Library a regular practice. Explore the Resource Library today and see what is new for 2025!

 

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