When the curriculum has arrived at slavery and the development of civil rights in America during the first half of the 19th century, you are ready to begin. Introduce the Amistad Case in general terms to your students. Indicate that the class will reenact the Amistad situation, coming to their own conclusion regarding the facts of the case. Your students should know that they will be placed into groups representing particular parties at the trial. All groups research the facts of the case using the Internet, books, and classroom materials available.
Computer time is apportioned to each group.
Assigned groups conduct research into the duties, skills, and points of view of their particular group. Specific documents selected, witnesses interviewed, trial proceeding reviewed, final court preparations made. The lesson will take considerable time to complete. Group research should start a couple of weeks prior to the actual mock trial simulation. Depending upon student preparation, the trial itself may take two or three days.