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Case Notes Template

Purpose​

Case Notes is the running journal for the whole curriculum. It helps students record what they notice, what they ruled, what still feels fuzzy, and what they would improve.

When to Use It​

  • Start in Week 1.
  • Revisit it every week.
  • Use it whenever a learner spots a rule, dispute, loophole, precedent, tricky what-if, or official rule update idea in daily life.

Student Directions​

Write one entry each week. You can also add extra entries whenever something in real life connects to the course.

Facilitator Notes​

  • Accept speech, dictation, sketches, lists, or full paragraphs.
  • The goal is pattern-noticing, not perfect prose.
  • Keep private or emotionally loaded details out of the journal unless the learner clearly wants to fictionalize them first.
  • Learners can use school, library, neighborhood, community, historical, story, or made-up examples instead of private family stories.

Template​

CASE NOTES

Date:
Week or topic:

Rule, agreement, or system I noticed:

What type is it?
- law
- rule
- norm
- promise
- agreement or contract
- right
- responsibility
- ethical question

What happened?

Who made or enforced the rule?

Who is affected?

What do I think the rule was for?

What claim, question, or disagreement am I noticing?

What evidence or details matter here?

What should I still check before I trust, repeat, report, accuse, or act?

My best interpretation or ruling:

What still feels unclear?

Possible rule update, amendment, or better wording:

Sources, helpers, or adults I checked with:

Attribution or AI note (if I used outside facts, images, quotes, translation, or AI help):

Other connection:
- civic literacy
- financial literacy
- media literacy
- decision literacy
- environmental literacy
- emotional or social literacy

Younger Learner Adaptation​

  • Use one sentence for each prompt.
  • Circle the type instead of writing it.
  • Draw the situation and add only a few labels.

Older Learner Extension​

  • Add a second possible interpretation.
  • Note the proof job or evidence question when relevant.
  • Add one sentence on whether the process felt fair.
  • Add one sentence on what perspective or context may still be missing.