Classroom Court Lesson

Learning Objectives

-To use information from a text in order to prepare for a drama activity.

-To speak in role.

The students are split into groups. Each group contains the characters as shown below.

Each group is going to try a different person for a different crime.

Group 1 – Mrs Swarbrick – for being a disgusting nudist.

Characters

1) Defendant – Mrs Swarbrick.

2) Her defence lawyer

3) The prosecution lawyer

5) Witness 1 – Michael Swarbrick

6) Witness 2 – Paul Beary

6) Witness 3 – Mr Swarbrick

Additional witnesses if required – Dave King, Ste Swarbrick.

Group 2 – Ste Swarbrick – for being a horrible, horrible person.

Characters

1) Defendant – Ste Swarbrick.

2) His defence lawyer

4) The prosecution lawyer

5) Witness 1 – Lucy King

6) Witness 2 – Mrs Swarbrick

7) Witness 3 – Michael Swarbrick

Additional witness if required – Dave King.

Group 3 – Paul Beary – for being just plain revolting.

Characters

1) Defendant – Paul Beary.

2) His defence lawyer

3) The prosecution lawyer

4) Witness 1 – Michael Swarbrick

5) Witness 2 – Lucy King

6) Witness 3 – Mrs Swarbrick

Additional witness if required – Brutus the Beefcake.

Group 4 – Chas – for being an idiot

Characters

1) Defendant – Chas.

2) His defence lawyer

3) The prosecution lawyer

4) Witness 1 – Michael Swarbrick

5) Witness 2 – Mrs O’Malley

Group 5 Michael Swarbrick – for being way too uptight

Characters

1) Defendant – Michael Swarbrick

2) His defence lawyer

3) The prosecution lawyer

4) Witness 1 – Mrs Swarbrick

5) Witness 2 – Chas

6) Witness 3 – Lucy King

Additional witness if required – Mrs O’Malley

Preparation

In each group, students have a particular role. They should use the text in order to find specific examples to illustrate their point. Teachers may wish to do this over several lessons/homeworks. Alternatively, students could also work in pairs to jointly take on one of the roles.

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Organisation of Courtroom Lesson

The teacher is the judge. Each group takes it in turns to “perform” their courtroom scene in front of the rest of the class. All of the students from the other groups form the jury. They must listen carefully to the evidence before deciding on whether or not the defendant is guilty.

1) Judge introduces the crime and the defendant.

2) Defendant makes his/her statement.

3) Defendant answers question from the prosecution lawyer.

4) Defendant answers question from the defence lawyer.

5) Steps 2) 3) and 4) are repeated for each further witness.

6) Judge sums up the evidence.

7) Jury votes on whether or not the defendant is guilty.

8) If guilty, judge passes sentence. Try to make this connected to the crime. E.g. “Mrs Swarbrick, you are sentenced to spend the rest of your life stitched into your clothes.”

NB: below you will find teaching resources to support each group. Each group has a pack containing introductory notes and a prompt sheet.

TEACHING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE LESSON

Courtroom Lesson

Group 1 – You are going to try Mrs Swarbrick for the crime of being a disgusting nudist.

Characters – please fill in names in the spaces

1) Defendant – Mrs Swarbrick……………………………………………………

2) Her defence lawyer………………………………………………………………

3) The prosecution lawyer……………………………………………………………

4) Witness 1 – Michael Swarbrick …………………………………………………

5) Witness 2 – Paul Beary…………………………………………………………………

6) Witness 3 – Mr Swarbrick………………………………………………………….

Additional witnesses if required –

Dave King……………………………………………………………………

Ste Swarbrick………………………………………………………………

Jobs

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Courtroom Lesson

Group 2 – You are going to try Ste Swarbrick for being a horrible, horrible person.

Characters – please fill in names in the spaces

1) Defendant – Ste Swarbrick……………………………………………………………….

2) His defence lawyer……………………………………………………………….

4) The prosecution lawyer……………………………………………………………….

5) Witness 1 – Lucy King……………………………………………………………….

6) Witness 2 – Mrs Swarbrick……………………………………………………………….

7) Witness 3 – Michael Swarbrick……………………………………………………………….

Additional witness if required – Dave King ………………………………………………………

Jobs

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Courtroom Lesson

Group 3 – You are going to try Paul Beary – for being just plain revolting.

Characters – please fill in names in the spaces

1) Defendant – Paul Beary……………………………………………………………..

2) His defence lawyer…………………………………………………………………

3) The prosecution lawyer…………………………………………………………….

4) Witness 1 – Michael Swarbrick…………………………………………………..

5) Witness 2 – Lucy King………………………………………………………………….

6) Witness 3 – Mrs Swarbrick…………………………………………………………

7) Additional witness if required – Brutus the Beefcake…………………………….

Jobs

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Courtroom Lesson

Group 4 – You are going to try Chas – for being an idiot.

Characters – please fill in names in the spaces

1) Defendant – Chas………………………………………………………….

2) His defence lawyer………………………………………………………..

3) The prosecution lawyer…………………………………………………

4) Witness 1 – Michael Swarbrick……………………………………….

5) Witness 2 – Mrs O’Malley…………………………………………………

Jobs

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Group 5 Michael Swarbrick – for being way too uptight

Courtroom Lesson

Group 4 – You are going to try Michael Swarbrick – for being way too uptight.

Characters – please fill in names in the spaces

1) Defendant – Michael Swarbrick……………………………………………….

2) His defence lawyer…………………………………………………………………..

3) The prosecution lawyer………………………………………………………………

4) Witness 1 – Mrs Swarbrick…………………………………………………………..

5) Witness 2 – Chas………………………………………………………………………..

6) Witness 3 – Lucy King………………………………………………………………….

Additional witness if required – Mrs O’Malley…………………………………..

Jobs

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Jobs – could be cut out and the correct job description given to each student:

Defence lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is innocent. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Michael – is it not true that everybody should be allowed to do whatever they want and it’s none of your business?”

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Prosecution lawyers – your job is to prove why the defendant is guilty. You can ask each character one question that will prove you right.

E.g. “Paul Beary – do you think there’s anything wrong with Mrs Swarbrick being a nudist?”

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Defendant and Witnesses – your job is to speak from your point of view about the “crime”. You have two jobs:

1) Prepare a statement (3-5 sentences) explaining your view on whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. You should use specific examples from the text. Try to write in character.

2) Answer questions in the courtroom when asked by the lawyer. Again, try to remain in character.

Writing Frame

Defendant

What are your initial views on these accusations? In the space below, jot down how you think your character would feel. Look carefully through the text, making a note of any specific examples/events that will help you clear your name:

Using this information, write a short statement (3-5 sentences long) in the space below, explaining why you are innocent. Try to write in character, thinking about how your character speaks/writes in the text.

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Writing Frame

Defence Lawyer

Look carefully through the text. How could you prove your client is innocent of this crime? Jot any ideas below. It might be that you can prove they’re not guilty. Or maybe the other characters have the wrong impression of them. Maybe people just look at things in different ways. Think about the characters you are going to question.

Using this information, write a question that you can ask each of the witnesses and the defendant. Try to write formally. Remember, your job is to prove that they’re not guilty…

Writing Frame

Prosecution Lawyer

Look carefully through the text. How could you prove that the defendant is guilty? Jot any ideas below. It might be that you can find examples of terrible things they’ve done. Or maybe you have an insight about how they felt at different times. Think about the characters you are going to question.

Using this information, write a question that you can ask each of the witnesses and the defendant. Try to write formally. Remember, your job is to prove that they’re guilty…

Writing Frame

Witness

What do you think your character would feel about the accusation made against the defendant? Would they agree or disagree? In the space below, jot down how you think your character would feel. Look carefully through the text, making a note of any specific examples/events demonstrate this:

Using this information, write a short statement (3-5 sentences long) in the space below, explaining whether you think the defendant is innocent or guilty. Try to write in character, thinking about how your character speaks/writes in the text.

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