Students will enter the project by investigating a fairy-tale crime scene, listening closely to a shared story, and beginning to use story evidence, point of view, and fairness language to ask what really happened. They will build common understanding of the case, practice sorting facts, opinions, and clues, and show early comprehension through a brief sequencing and questioning checkpoint.

Students will reread the class fairy tale or folktale, examine character actions and narrator clues, and choose whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. They will build an evidence-based claim board with 2–3 text clues, explain why their decision is fair, question opposing ideas, and revise their thinking through feedback before a checkpoint conference.

Students will compare two versions of a fairy tale or folktale, sort story details into facts, opinions, and clues, and organize evidence that both supports and challenges their side. They will practice perspective-taking, ask questions about fairness and point of view, and build an evidence-to-claim map they can use to prepare courtroom arguments in the next phase.

Students will rehearse and strengthen their fairy tale court case by turning evidence charts into spoken arguments, practicing rebuttals, questioning witnesses, and revising with peer and adult feedback before a live defense checkpoint.

Students will present their completed fairy tale mock trial and court case portfolio to an authentic audience, then reflect on how evidence, fairness, empathy, and point of view shaped their final decisions.