Below you will find all the lessons for the Law & Ethics module, organized into tables by suggested units. The default table setting shows lessons in the sequence they are recommended, but you can also use the headers to sort for lessons according to the time it takes to teach the lesson, the type of lesson (direct instruction, projects, etc.), and the requirements for technology, and which lessons include modifications for special populations (gifted and talented, special education, etc.).

If you’d like to see all the “One Slides” for this module in order to create your own curriculum path, click here to make a copy of the master slideshow.

 

Introduction to Law and Ethics

Lesson	Order	Time to teach	Type of lesson	Tech needs	Modifications
Overview of the First Amendment	1	45-60 minutes	Pair/ group work	No computers
SPLC presentation: Press freedom	2	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
Terms you need to know	3	45-60 minutes	Pair/ group work	Some computer access
Researching essential media law cases	4	More than 90 minutes	Projects	Some computer access
Examining states' student free expression status	5	More than 90 minutes	Pair/ group work	Some computer access

Foundations for student media

Lesson	Order	Time to teach	Type of lesson	Tech needs	Modifications
Eight functions for journalism	1	More than 90 minutes	Analysis/ critique	Some computer access
The importance of dissenting voices	2	45-60 minutes	Analysis/ critique	No computers
Crafting the argument against prior review	3	More than 90 minutes	Pair/ group work	No computers
Understanding journalistic forum status	4	More than 90 minutes	Pair/ group work	Some computer access
Creating a mission statement for student media	5	More than 90 minutes	Projects	Some computer access
Introducing students to takedown requests	6	45-60 minutes	Pair/ group work	Some computer access
Making informed takedown decisions	7	More than 90 minutes	Analysis/ critique	Some computer access

Specific legal topics

Lesson	Order	Time to teach	Type of lesson	Tech needs	Modifications
SPLC presentation: Libel law	1	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
SPLC presentation: Copyright	2	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
SPLC presentation: Invasion of privacy	3	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
Introduction to FERPA	4	45-60 minutes	Pair/ group	Some computer access
SPLC presentation: Freedom of information	5	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
Creating open records requests, part 1	6	60-90 minutes	Pair/ group	Some computer access
Creating open records requests, part 2	7	60-90 minutes	Pair/ group	Some computer access
SPLC presentation: Reporter's privilege	8	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
Practice scenarios: Libel, copyright, FOIA, privilege	9	45-60 minutes	Practice/ formative	Some computer access

Ethics

Lesson	Order	Time to teach	Type of lesson	Tech needs	Modifications
The difference between law and ethics	1	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
Red light, green light process for ethics	2	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
The TUFF process for making ethical decisions	3	More than 90 minutes	Practice/ formative	No computers
Applying ethics to scholastic journalism scenarios	4	More than 90 minutes	Practice/ formative	No computers
Exploring issues with anonymous sources	5	More than 90 minutes	Pair/ group work	Some computer access
Learning to be fair, balanced and accurate	6	More than 90 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
When journalists err ethically	7	More than 90 minutes	Practice/ formative	Some computer access
Ethical dilemmas in yearbook production	8	45-60 minutes	Analysis/ critique	Some computer access
Creating ethical guidelines and procedures	9	More than 90 minutes	Projects	Some computer access
Ethical considerations for virtual reality	10	45-60 minutes	Analysis/ critique	Some computer access
Ethical considerations for profanity	11	45-60 minutes	Direct instruction	No computers
Law and ethics review and exam	12	45-60 minutes	Tests/ quizzes	No computers