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Justice as a Virtue

Essential Question 

What are checks and balances, and why do they exist? 

Materials 

Opening 

Open the lesson with a classroom discussion. Ask students:  

  • Have you ever wished you had said or done something in response to someone’s words or actions but thought of just the right words or actions when it was too late to do or say it?  
  • What does it mean to “get justice” for something?  
  • Can you name a time when you tried to “get justice”? How did it go?  

Then, ask students to define Justice. The Justice Vocabulary Card can be a good visual for students.  

  • Justice as a virtue is “Upholding of what is fair and right. Respecting the rights and dignity of all.” 

Tell students “Today, we are going to read a letter from a man who wanted justice for what was done to him and his family.” 

Teacher Note: Make it clear to students that justice is NOT the same thing as revenge. Students should uphold what is fair and right by respecting the rights of dignity of all. Just because someone did not act justly towards someone, that does not mean that other person should get revenge. Revenge is not the same as getting justice because it is not done with respect, but with the goal of “getting even” (which often means through hurting that person).  

Activity 

For the Primary Source Activity, students will be reading “Letter from a Freedman to His Old Master,” written by Jourdon Anderson.  

Students will need Handout A, which has the primary source text and comprehension questions. Put students in pairs to alternate reading during the activity. Read aloud the background information on the document and explain the directions, of both Part A and Part B. Support students as they read and fill out the Handout.  

Scaffolding Note: If in need of a formative assessment, have students complete the comprehension questions independently, rather than in their partner group.  

Teacher Note: Partner reading does not work for every class. If you need a different format for students, the Modes of Read-Aloud document provides alternative reading methods.  

Closing 

To close the lesson, have a few students create a 3-2-1 list. Through creating the list students summarize, reflect, and ask questions.  

On a plain piece of paper or a note card ask students to record:  

  • 3 most important parts of today’s lesson and reading. 
  • 2 things they found interesting or want to know more about. 
  • 1 question they still have.  

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