Week 17: Run a Tiny Trial (Mock Trial)
Solving Disagreements Fairly - Phase 3
This week, the learner uses the whole system they have been building.
The goal is not to win a dramatic argument. The goal is to run a fair process from beginning to end.
A trial gets competitive, and it's easy to want to interrupt or talk over the other side. Pause before arguing: one breath, then make your point calmly. If you cut someone off, a quick repair — "Sorry, please finish" — keeps the process fair. (More on the Coping Skills for Rules, Conflict, and Consequences page.)
A mock trial runs on evidence-based speaking and careful listening. Build your point on facts: "The evidence shows ___, which means ___." Then listen closely to the other side so you can respond to what they actually said — that's how a fair argument works. (More on the Communication Skills page.)
Kid Hook
Imagine a tiny court case called The Case of the Missing Markers.
People disagree about what happened. There are clues, questions, and a rule that might matter. How do you settle it fairly?
Today's Mission
Run a low-stakes fictional trial where both sides get heard, evidence gets checked, and a fair decision gets made.
You'll Make / You'll Try
- role cards for the tiny trial
- a written decision at the end
Materials
- optional Mock Trial Packet
- optional Written Ruling Template
- paper
- pencil
- role cards
- Case Notes
Quick 20-Minute Version
- Use a fictional case like The Case of the Missing Markers.
- Assign simple roles.
- Answer 4 questions: What happened? What rule matters? What evidence do we have? What is a fair answer?
Main Activity
In a trial, separate evidence from assumption. Ask "What can we actually show, and what information is still missing?" A case built on facts holds up; one built on guesses falls apart. (More on the Problem Solving Skills page.)
Use a fictional low-stakes case to practice a full fair hearing with roles, evidence, and a written decision.
Use low-stakes disputes only. Do not use bullying, abuse, trauma, humiliation, family secrets, money pressure, romantic conflict, police questioning, immigration status, or intense emotional history. If a scenario starts feeling too real or too hot, pause and switch to a fictional version immediately.
- This is not about winning. It is about running the process correctly.
- Use a default fictional packet if needed so nobody has to bring a real conflict.
- Good defaults: The Case of the Missing Markers, The Case of the Shared Snack, The Case of the Broken Game Controller.
- End with a brief, low-pressure debrief about whether both sides were heard and whether the process felt fair.
Week at a Glance
| Prep time | ~15 minutes |
| Materials | Mock trial packet, role cards, paper, Case Notes |
| Core vocabulary | judge, evidence, witness, decision, fair |
| Difficulty | Moderate to Advanced |
Facilitator Preparation
- Choose a fictional case.
- Prepare role cards such as:
- Judge
- Person bringing the case
- Person responding
- Witness
- Evidence keeper
- If needed, print the Mock Trial Packet.
Keep the procedure calm and structured. A well-run trial where the learner does not get the result they wanted is still a strong lesson.
Younger Learner Adaptation (Ages 8-9)
Simple idea: A tiny trial is a fair way to hear both sides and make a decision.
Concrete substitutions:
- Skip formal openings and closings.
- Use the 4 simple questions:
- What happened?
- What rule matters?
- What evidence do we have?
- What is a fair answer?
- Use stuffed animals or fictional club members if that feels easier.
What success looks like: The learner can help run a calm, fair process on a fictional case.
Older Learner Extension (Ages 10-12)
- After the child-friendly version is clear, introduce formal labels in parentheses:
- person bringing the case (plaintiff or complainant, depending on the model)
- person responding (defendant or respondent)
- Older learners can use the Written Ruling Template more formally.
- IRAC can be mentioned here as an optional reasoning structure, not as required child-facing language.
Age-Banded Legal Learning Goals
Ages 8-9: Guided foundation
- help run a calm, low-stakes fictional hearing
- identify the rule, the evidence, and the fair answer in simple language
Ages 10-12: Core path
- separate claims from evidence
- explain why both sides should be heard before a decision
- write or say a reasoned answer using the rule and the evidence
Ages 11-13: Optional extension
- connect the hearing to burden of proof, written rulings, and appeal questions with adult guidance
- use more detailed procedure language only in guided fictional or public examples
Fair Process
Fair process means there should be reasonable steps before serious consequences happen. A fair process usually includes listening, asking what happened, looking for evidence, giving people a chance to explain, and choosing a response that fits the situation.
This mock trial should stay low-stakes and fictional. It should never feel like punishment, interrogation, or pressure to disclose private experiences.
Legal Information Check
- What is the claim?
- What evidence is shown?
- What details are agreed on, and what details still need checking?
- Is a screenshot, clip, quote, or image missing context?
- Could any part be edited or AI-generated?
- What should we ask a trusted adult before treating this as settled fact?
Civil Discussion Moves
- "Can you explain what you mean by...?"
- "What evidence supports that?"
- "What rule matters here?"
- "Did both sides get heard?"
- "I need a moment before I answer."
Guided Session 1
Prepare the Tiny Trial
Learning Goal
By the end of this session, the student can:
- explain the fictional case clearly
- assign roles
- gather the rule and the evidence
Activities
1. Choose the case
Use one of these defaults if needed:
- The Case of the Missing Markers
- The Case of the Shared Snack
- The Case of the Broken Game Controller
2. Assign the roles
Use role cards:
- Judge
- Person bringing the case
- Person responding
- Witness
- Evidence keeper
If you have fewer people, one person may hold more than one role, or you can use the packet in solo mode.
3. Gather the pieces
Ask:
- What rule matters?
- What facts are agreed on?
- What evidence do we have?
- What does each side want the answer to be?
Guided Session 2
Run the Trial
Learning Goal
By the end of this session, the student can:
- run a fair hearing in order
- separate claims from evidence
- write or explain a reasoned decision
Activities
1. Follow the simple order
Use this child-friendly hearing order:
- What happened?
- What rule matters?
- What evidence do we have?
- What does each side say?
- What is the fair answer?
2. Keep the judge focused
The judge should ask:
- What evidence supports that?
- Which rule applies here?
- Did both sides get heard?
3. Make the written decision
Use a short ruling structure:
The decision:
What facts seemed most important:
What rule mattered most:
Why this answer felt fair:
Independent Practice
Goal
Reflect on whether the trial was fair and understandable.
Activities
1. Emotional debrief
Ask:
- Did both sides get heard?
- Was anything confusing?
- Did the process feel fair?
2. Spot one charter gap
If the trial exposed a fuzzy part of the charter, write it down for Week 18.
Case Notes
Add this to Case Notes:
Date:
The fictional case was:
The rule that mattered:
The evidence that mattered most:
The decision:
Did the process feel fair? Why or why not?
One charter gap I noticed:
Sentence starters for younger learners:
- "The rule was ___."
- "The evidence was ___."
- "The fair answer was ___."
Check for Understanding
After this week, check whether the learner can:
- Name the key parts: "What happened, what rule mattered, and what evidence mattered?"
- Describe the process: "Did both sides get heard?"
- State the decision: "What was the fair answer, and why?"
If the learner can do at least 2 of these, they are ready for Week 18.
Pause and Notice
The trial teaches that fair procedure changes what an argument becomes.
Instead of louder and louder disagreement, the group gets a structure for listening, checking evidence, and making a reasoned decision.
This week's takeaway: A tiny trial is not about drama. It is about using a fair process to reach a reasoned answer.
Preview of Next Week
Next week, the learner looks at the decision, the possibility of a second look, and the final updates to the charter.