Grades 6–8 , 5 CASELOADS , 20 CASES
The Block
School, the group chat, and the neighborhood. Start with something that doesn’t quite add up.
CASELOAD 1
Before you run with it
The clip cuts off right there
Malik opens a group-chat message about Friday's school dance.
Write the update you would send before anyone changes plans.Who made the dress-code rule?
Paloma has been told that her sweatshirt violates a school rule, but the adults explaining the rule do not give the same account.
Build a Who Decides? map for the rule.Is “late” the same as “missing”?
Students notice that two teachers handle late work differently.
Sort each statement as course rule, school policy, or unknown.Why did the absence become a problem?
Jordan's family sends an email at 7:12 a.m.
Trace the paper trail from absence to correction.CASELOAD 2
Read the fine print
The ramp is open. Is the event accessible?
An event can have a ramp and still be hard to reach.
Redesign the arrival instructions so they work for more people.Can everyone see my school records?
A family member asks to see a student's grades and discipline notes.
Mark what the provided form actually authorizes.The screenshot left the chat
A private joke has traveled beyond the group where it was shared.
Create a “before you forward” decision card.Is the recommendation actually an ad?
A creator recommends a backpack as a favorite.
Rewrite the first screen so the relationship is clear.CASELOAD 3
Find who’s responsible
Why does my feed keep showing this?
Two students search the same topic and receive different recommended videos.
Keep a 24-hour recommendation diary and identify possible signals.It looks real. What can the picture prove?
An image of a flooded basketball court arrives without a source link or date.
Write a verification note that says what is known and unknown.What does the school board actually do?
Students hear about a calendar change from their principal and decide the principal caused it.
Match each decision to the actor most likely to have authority.Did one complaint ban the book?
A parent requests review of a library novel.
Build the paper trail from complaint to final decision.CASELOAD 4
Put it to the test
Who decided the park closes at dusk?
The starter presents a park sign closing a basketball court at dusk and a city webpage listing 10 p.m.
Decide what you can say now and what needs checking.The bus stop moved
The starter compares a twelve-minute detour on one route with a two-minute detour on another.
Map who is affected differently and what information the agency needs.Why did the total change at checkout?
In the starter, a student has $14.00 and an online cart reaches $17.46 after tax and shipping.
Make a “before you buy” checklist.The free trial was not free forever
A game subscription begins with a free trial, then a charge appears.
Highlight the words that should affect a decision.CASELOAD 5
Take it public
Why are they cutting the trees?
The starter describes trees being removed during a stormwater-line repair.
Write three questions that separate environmental impact from rumor.Who gets to be “the neighborhood” in the story?
The starter describes a video calling a block dangerous while relying on police footage.
Create a source-balance plan for a revised story.What happens at public comment?
A student wants to speak about a park proposal but is unsure where public comment fits or what the meeting can accomplish.
Write a 60-second comment with one request in scope.What would you change at school, and what can actually change it?
The crew wants an achievable, evidence-backed school change.
Complete a mini public-information project with sources and one realistic next step.