Environmental Mock Trial

Sixth-grade students participated in an interdisciplinary project that integrated science, social studies, and English language arts through the lens of environmental justice. Beginning with the study of real-world environmental conflicts, students explored the causes and consequences of human impact on ecosystems, natural resources, and communities. They then transformed their understanding into courtroom simulations, where they took on roles such as lawyers, witnesses, and judges.

Through collaborative research, close reading of scientific and legal sources, and the use of structured argumentation, students built persuasive cases around complex environmental dilemmas. They drafted opening statements, delivered witness testimonies, and proposed creative sentencing solutions that balanced development with environmental care.

This project deepened their skills in public speaking, evidence-based writing, and ethical reasoning. The final mock trials provided the students with an opportunity to express their thinking with clarity and conviction while exploring how civic systems respond to environmental challenges. The result was a dynamic and meaningful learning experience that blended academic rigor with real-world relevance.

Skills: Arguments and counterarguments construction; public speaking and courtroom delivery, critical reading of legal and scientific sources; role-based collaboration and planning; and decision-making using evidence.

Content: Environmental justice and development conflicts; legal terms: prosecution, defense, verdict, sentence, objection; scientific causes of pollution and climate change; case studies: dams, ports, mining, food industry; trade-offs between growth and sustainability.

Assessment: Opening and closing statements (written/oral); participation in a structured mock trial; group collaboration and role performance; use of evidence from science and social studies; reflection on fairness and environmental impact.

Sixth Grade: How should courts of justice operate to balance the need for industrial and economic development with the need to protect the environment?

As students progressed through the Environmental Mock Trial, they developed a strong understanding of courtroom roles and procedures each week. They moved from simply learning what a trial is to confidently performing as lawyers, witnesses, and judges. Over time, they sharpened their ability to analyze evidence, anticipate counterarguments, and apply scientific and social reasoning to build persuasive cases. Their final performances reflected a deep grasp of how justice works, and how it can be used to address complex environmental issues with fairness and clarity.

Balancing social and economic development with environmental protection

Provocation

Students launched the project by exploring powerful images and headlines related to environmental conflicts. They discussed who is responsible when nature is harmed and how courts can help solve these problems fairly.

Global warming

Students investigated how human activity contributes to global warming. They looked at how rising temperatures, changing weather, and increased pollution connect to industries like farming, energy, and transportation.

Other types of polution

Through real-world examples, students explored how water, air, and soil pollution affect the environment and people’s health. They analyzed how pollution often affects certain communities more than others.

Trade-offs

Students looked at real problems where a decision can be good for for the overall economy but harming for the environment. They talked about how to choose what’s fair for both economical, social and environmental development.

Employment and development

Students explored how large projects, like dams or mining operations, can bring jobs, roads, and electricity, but also cause conflict and environmental damage. They considered how to balance progress with fairness and sustainability.

Environmental Mock Trial

In teams, students took on courtroom roles to present real environmental cases. They researched evidence, built arguments, and proposed verdicts and sentences to show how justice can help protect people and the environment.

Sixth Grade Blue

What a great preparation!

In this rotation, students explored the Environmental Mock Trial project with great depth and commitment, even though the final trial simulations couldn’t all take place. Their preparation, however, was nothing short of outstanding!

Students investigated a wide range of industries, from commerce transportation and the food industry to the energy sector, and analyzed their essential role in development alongside the social and environmental costs they can generate.

The learning extended into courtroom structures and procedures, where students continuously refined opening statements and how to use shared evidence effectively for their cases. Even without the final performance, students walked away with a powerful understanding of the balance between progress and protection.

Sixth Grade Green

Mastering the roles.

This group of sixth graders experienced the Environmental Mock Trial as a fully immersive, student-centered process. Through station rotations, they practiced and embodied key courtroom roles mid-project, deepening their understanding with each step. A strong emphasis on group reflection allowed them to analyze their assigned cases from multiple perspectives to their full extent.

This led to mock trials that helped them to truly grasp and explain the tensions between industrial development and environmental responsibility. The students crafted verdicts and legal sentences that went beyond “guilty” or “not guilty,” proposing real-world solutions that support both economic growth and environmental care.

Fifth Grade: How do rules and evidence help use resolve environmental issues?

Fifth grade students stepped into the roles of lawyers, judges, and witnesses as they explored how people and nature are connected—and sometimes in conflict. Through the Environmental Mock Trial, students studied real environmental problems happening in different parts of the world. These included issues like pollution, water use, and land development. Working in teams, they learned how to research facts, understand different points of view, and use science and social studies to explain what was happening. Each team prepared and acted out a courtroom case, where they shared evidence, asked questions, and tried to convince a jury with strong arguments. Throughout the project, students practiced important skills like listening, speaking clearly, building logical arguments, and working together. By the end of the mock trial, students had a better understanding of how decisions about the environment are made—and how young people like them can be part of those conversations.

Skills: Explaining ideas clearly using facts; public speaking and listening; asking and answering questions respectfully; teamwork and collaboration; learning to take on roles like judge, lawyer, and witness.

Content: Environmental problems like pollution and deforestation; basics of how a trial works; simple legal terms: lawyer, judge, witness, evidence; real-life examples of environmental conflicts; understanding fairness and choices in development.

Assessment: Participation in a group mock trial; simple written or spoken statements; use of facts and vocabulary to support ideas; teamwork and role play; reflections on learning and making fair choices for society and the environment.

Becoming a valuable courtroom member

Provocation

Students began by looking at real pictures and stories about how nature is sometimes harmed by human actions. They asked big questions like: Who should take care of the environment and what happens when nature and people requiere different things?

Learning About Pollution

In this phase, students explored different kinds of pollution, like dirty water, air, and land, and learned how these problems can hurt animals, plants, and people.

Who Needs What?

Students studied situations where communities needed jobs, roads, or electricity, but these came with environmental costs. They talked about what it means to grow in a way that is fair to both people and the environment.

Building Our Cases

Working in groups, students prepared their cases. Some teams worked to show how the environment was harmed, while others explained why the project was important. Everyone used facts, pictures, and examples to make their side stronger.

Time for the Trial!

Students took on roles like lawyers, judges, and witnesses and performed their mock trials. They spoke clearly, listened respectfully, and helped their classmates understand different sides of the story.

What We Learned

At the end of the project, students reflected on what it means to be fair, how we can help protect nature, and how people can solve problems by talking, listening, and using facts.

Fifth Grade Blue

On the spot Mock Trials!

These amazing fifth graders took on the challenge of participating in a spontaneous, on-the-spot mock trial for their Showcase. With a randomly selected case and limited prep time, students had to quickly step into courtroom roles and apply everything they had learned in real time. The fast-paced simulations encouraged teamwork, quick thinking, and confident public speaking. It was a high-energy, high-engagement experience—and what incredible trials they put on! Way to go!

Fifth Grade Green

Hearing from the experts.

In this rotation, we also focused on learning from professionals in the field. Students had the opportunity to hear directly from guest speakers, parents from our community, who shared their expertise as entrepreneurs, attorneys, and judges. Through their real-world insights and experiences, students deepened their understanding of how justice and environmental responsibility intersect in professional settings. These visits helped bridge the gap between the classroom and future careers, making the mock trial project even more meaningful and relevant.

Google Sites

Report abuse