| Teacher Resources (videos, lesson plans & teaching modules) |
Try Judging is the first Canadian student program to be conceived, designed and produced by judges. It is a multimedia educational program designed for integration into high school social studies, civics and law courses. Try Judging introduces students to the role of judges within our judicial system, and encourages exploration of important concepts such as the rule of law, judicial independence and judicial impartiality.
“Young people today are more questioning, more sophisticated, more sharply scrutinizing than ever before,” said Mr. Jamie Saunders, Co-Chair of the CSCJA, Public Education Committee. “They are also extremely interactive. They need to touch and feel - to experience - a concept, to really understand how it works – and why it's important. That's what Try Judging is all about. It helps them understand our justice system by putting them right in the middle of it. And it helps them learn about the role of judges by putting them right in the judges' shoes.”
Video files require Apple QuickTime™ player for playback, and Modules require Adobe® Reader® for viewing. The QuickTime player and Acrobat Reader software are available for download from the internet.
Use the following buttons to download the QuickTime player and/or Acrobat Reader software installers:
 
Made up of three components – a teachers' guide, a resource website for teachers and an online interactive program for students, the program is built around five guiding questions that lead students through five case scenarios and issues associated with the role of judges in Canada's judicial system. The five guiding questions and associated case scenarios are:
>> Download Complete Teacher's Guide (PDF / 1.7MB)
Each of the teaching modules begins with proposed lesson plans geared towards students 14 to 19 years of age with a wide range of academic abilities and diverse set of cultural backgrounds. The modules detail learning outcomes, additional exercises for classroom use and assignments, and internet links to additional resources.
Once a meaningful level of application has been achieved it is hoped that user feedback from both teachers and students will add to the body of lesson plans and other means developed to impart it. We encourage teachers to let us know what they think by using the feedback section of this website to suggest how our project might be expanded or improved.
We encourage teachers to let us know what they think by using the "Contact Us" section of this website to suggest how our project might be expanded or improved. Go to "Contact Us" section.
Do you have questions, comments or suggestions?
We welcome any suggestions, comments or concerns you might have in regard to this program. All feedback will be considered on an ongoing basis with a view to introducing revisions and additions to the lesson plans based on your experiences.
Any questions related to lesson plans will happily be answered by senior teacher,
John Gann who authored the sample lesson plans found within. Other questions
related to the Try Judging program can be directed to Yolande Henry of the CSCJA
Public Education Committee. You can contact either John or Yolande at
: cscjasupport@xplornet.ca
Try Judging was produced by the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association, Public Education Committee. The committee gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the CSCJA; The Canadian Bar Law for the Future Fund; The Law Foundation of Ontario; The Alberta Law Foundation; The Law Foundation of British Columbia; The Yukon Law Foundation; and the Department of Justice, Canada. | 
