Instructor's manual for the Grand Rapids Bar Association's 3Rs (Rights, Responsibilities & Realities) program, a civics education partnership with Ottawa Hills High School. Contains lesson plans, discussion guides, and career counseling materials for eight sessions covering the U.S. Constitution, including the First and Fourth Amendments, equal protection, and voting rights.
This is the instructor's manual for the Grand Rapids Bar Association's 3Rs Program, a civics education initiative for students at Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The program is co-sponsored by the Justice Foundation of West Michigan and Grand Rapids Public Schools, and relies on volunteer attorneys and law students to lead small-group sessions.
The manual begins with an overview of the program's goals: improving understanding of the rule of law and the Constitution, increasing interest in civic issues, providing practical career counseling, and improving the pipeline of students of color into legal careers. Contact information for program coordinators Brianna Gohlke-Clausen and Rachel Higuera Muecke is provided.
A user's guide explains how to prepare for classroom visits. Class periods are 50 minutes long. The curriculum includes a lesson outline with suggested script, a corresponding student worksheet, and optional activities. Volunteers are encouraged to adjust lessons to their group's needs and to research current events that illustrate the topics.
Lesson 1 introduces the 3Rs program. The team leader introduces the volunteer faculty and explains the program's focus on constitutional rights, responsibilities, and realities. The lesson covers the Bill of Rights, the role of judges and precedent, and the importance of respect in discussions. A short video is shown, then students break into small groups for introductions and career interest discussions.
In small groups, attorneys share their own career paths and ask students about their interests, goals, and role models. Sample questions help students think about their futures, and the manual provides guidance for responding to career ideas such as sports or entertainment. The session aims to build rapport and encourage students to consider legal careers.