Students investigate a familiar fairy tale or folktale to decide what happened, who is responsible, and what outcome is fair by using story evidence like a real court team. Through close reading, retelling, comparing versions of stories, and sorting facts, opinions, and clues, they strengthen literacy skills while building an early understanding of how judges and juries consider point of view, consequences, and fairness. The work culminates in a mock trial and court case portfolio that give students authentic roles as speakers, listeners, questioners, and decision-makers. Experiences with a judge guest speaker and the LA Court System help students connect classroom learning to the real world while reflecting on empathy, compassion, and multiple perspectives.

Students will closely read and retell a fairy tale or folktale, identify key details, describe who is telling the story, and explain the story’s central message or lesson. They will compare two versions of a tale, examine characters’ actions and consequences, and use evidence to distinguish facts, opinions, and clues when deciding what is fair. Students will develop speaking and listening skills by asking and answering questions, sequencing events, and creating clear opening and closing arguments for a mock trial. They will also practice collaboration, empathy, and perspective-taking as they prepare with classmates, learn from a judge and court visit, and revise their work for a final public performance.

Students will create a class court case portfolio that includes sequencing organizers, character and point-of-view charts, fact/opinion/clue sorts, student-generated question lists, evidence cards, and short opening and closing argument drafts based on a fairy tale or folktale. They will also develop simple visual supports and optional audio recordings to clarify their ideas, such as witness sketches, scene maps, and labeled clue displays. The final product is a 30-minute mock trial with student roles for attorneys, witnesses, jury, and judge, featuring opening statements, witness questioning, and closing arguments from both prosecution and defense. A polished set of trial materials, including revised scripts, role cards, and evidence displays, will support the live exhibition and reflect students’ reading comprehension, comparison of stories, and understanding of fairness and perspective.

Open by transforming the classroom into a simple crime scene from a familiar fairy tale or folktale, with age-appropriate clues such as character footprints, a broken prop, labeled evidence cards, and short witness notes for students to inspect in teams. After a dramatic read-aloud of the story, assign students to prosecution and defense groups and have them act as detectives who sort what they notice into facts, opinions, and clues while discussing what seems fair and what really happened. Invite students to generate questions they would ask a judge, jury, or witness, then introduce the project’s essential questions and explain that they will prepare for a real mock trial. If possible, build excitement by sharing photos or a short message from the LA Court System or previewing the upcoming judge visit and court field trip.

Host a 30-minute mock trial for families, school staff, and community guests in which students serve as attorneys, witnesses, judge, and jury, presenting opening statements, witness questions, evidence, and closing arguments from their fairy tale or folktale case. Invite a judge or representative from the LA Court System to attend and offer brief feedback on how students used story evidence, fairness, and point of view in their arguments. Display the class court case portfolio around the room with sequencing organizers, clue charts, drawings, and short scripts so visitors can see how students moved from reading comprehension to courtroom reasoning. End with a short student reflection share-out in which children describe how compassion, empathy, and different perspectives helped them decide what was fair.