Virginia SOL CE.5.c
The Standard
comparing and contrasting civil and criminal cases
Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science · The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the judicial systems established by the Constitution of Virginia and the Constitution of the United States by
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify whether a court case is civil, criminal, or both. They compare who brings the case, the burden of proof, and possible outcomes such as damages, fines, or imprisonment.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly classify short case scenarios and explain the clues they used. They can name the parties, purpose, burden of proof, and likely outcome in each type of case.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think any case involving police is only criminal, or that losing a civil case leads to jail. They may also think victims prosecute criminal cases, rather than the government.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: “A speeding driver injures a cyclist. Describe one possible criminal case and one possible civil case, including the parties and outcomes.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have students sort scenario cards into civil, criminal, or both, then label each card with the parties and possible outcomes.
Ask students to write why the same harmful act can lead to both a criminal trial and a civil lawsuit.
Play a clue game where teams identify the case type after hearing details about the parties, proof required, and possible outcome.
Read brief news summaries of a lawsuit and a prosecution, then have students complete a side-by-side comparison chart.
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Related Standards
- CE.1.c
comparing and contrasting debates, compromises, and plans surrounding the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rig...
- S.3.e
comparing and contrasting people, places, and events
- S.VS.e
comparing and contrasting people, places, and events
- S.USII.e
comparing and contrasting people, places, events, and historical and political perspectives
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