
Guidelines for Conducting a Mock Trial
For
Teachers
Guidelines for Conducting a Mock Trial
in the Classroom
-
Opening statements (3 minutes each)
Prosecution opens with their statement.
Defense opens with their statement
- Prosecution calls their first witness (allow a maximum of 10 minutes per witness). Keep the questions on track and pertinent. The Judge may cut off a line of questioning or rule on pertinence of the line of questioning.
- Defense cross examines the first witness
- Repeat this procedure for the second and third prosecution witnesses
- Defense calls its first witness
- Prosecution cross-examines the witness.
- Repeat for the second and third defense witnesses.
- Either side may forgo cross-examination if they have no questions for the witness.
- Prosecution gives its closing statement summing up the case
- Defense gives its closing statement summing up its case.
- Defendant speaks on his own behalf
- Jury deliberates (discusses the case)
- Jury votes in secret and the votes are counted.

Explore American History
For Kids and Teachers
Creating a New Nation
- New World Explorers
- Native Americans in Olden Times
- The 13 Colonies
- Road to Revolution
- The American Revolution
Creating a New Government
Western Expansion
- Jefferson and theNew Republic
- Louisiana Purchase
- Lewis & Clark
- War of 1812
- Monroe Doctrine
- Manifest Destiny
- The Oregon Trail
- Wagon Trains
- Pioneer Life & Frontier Life
- Trail of Tears
- The Alamo 1836, Texas Revolution
- Mexican - American War 1846-1848
- Gold Rush
Brink of the Storm and the Civil War
- Events Leading up to the American Civil War
- The Industrial Revolution
- American Civil War - 1861-1865
- People of the Civil War - Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott and more
- 13th Amendment ending slavery forever
- Reconstruction, Carpetbaggers & Scalawags
- 14th & 15th Amendments
Growth in the West
The Nation Grows
World War I, The Great War
The Roaring 20s
The Great Depression
World War II
Slavery in America
Segregation for Kids - Civil Rights
US Holidays
QUIZZES - Interactive, with Answers for Student Review
For Teachers
Free for Classroom Use - American History Powerpoints and Presentations
American History Lesson Plans, Units, Activities, Projects for Teachers