A Mock Trial Based on

A Mock Trial Based on

Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah

Sonia Francis

Fifth Grade

PS 175

INTRODUCTION

The Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye leased land in Hialeah, Florida and planned to establish a church, school, and cultural center there. They would bring their practice of Santeria, which included the ritual sacrifice of animals, into the area. Animal sacrifice is practiced at birth, marriage, and death rites. It is also used for curing the sick and other annual ceremonies. As a response to this, the city of Hialeah passed several ordinances prohibiting animal sacrifice. The Church claimed that this violated their First Amendment rights to freely exercise their religion

TASK:

Using the Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v City of Hialeah case, the children will stage a mock trial based on this case and will perform it in the classroom. At the end of the mock trial a real lawyer, acting as the Judge will hand down a decision.

PROCESS:

1. Bring in an attorney into the classroom for lectures, questions, answers and discussions over a period of several visits.

2. The children will be lectured on the judicial process by the attorney with time for questions, answers and discussions with special attention being paid on the fourth visit to the actual trial process.

3. Once the classroom understands how the judical process works, the teacher and the lawyer will select students to play assigned roles in a mock trial based on the Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v City of Hialeah.

4. After the roles are assigned the teacher and the lawyer will set the scenario with the children and will talk with the children about their roles in the mock trial.

5. As an example, the teacher and the lawyer will act out a part of the scenario to give the children a clear understanding about the case and about the roles they will play in the mock trial based on the case.

6. After a few practices the children will perform the mock trial in the classroom.

7. At the end, the Judge (lawyer) will hand down his decision.

RESOURCES

https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/lukumi.html

http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/court/luku_v_hail.html

http://www.freedomforum.org/packages/first/curricula/educationforfreedom/L06main.htm

EVALUATION:

The mock trial performance will be videotaped. Afterward the children will have an oral discussion to assess each others’ performance based on the following criteria:

1. Did they understand their roles in the judicial process of a mock trial?

2. Did they present their case effectively?

3. Did they fit into the character? (knew their role and lines)

4. Was the character believable? (projected voice, had good posture)

CONCLUSION:

By participating in the mock trial the children will have gained knowledge of how the judicial process works and the rules and responsibilities of all participants in the trial process. They will also understand how a judge reaches a decision.

STANDARDS:

English Language Arts

E1c-Read and comprehend informational materials

E3a-Participate in one-one teacher conferences

E3b-Participate in- group meetings

E3c-Prepare and deliver an individual presentation

E4a-Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English Language in written and oral work

E5a-Utilizing and analyzing functional documents

E7a-Utilizing and analyzing public documents

Social Studies

Standard 1:History of the United States and New York

Standard 5: Civic, Citizenship, and Government

Career Development and Occupational Standards

II: Integrated Learning