Middle School Court: Classroom Code of Conduct
Middle School Court: Classroom Code of Conduct Edition
Don't hand students a list of classroom rules... Let them help create them.
Looking for a meaningful back-to-school activity that helps students understand classroom expectations while giving them ownership over the classroom culture?
Welcome to Middle School Court: Classroom Code of Conduct Edition—a courtroom-style debate game where students examine real classroom behaviors before working together to create their own Classroom Constitution.
Instead of telling students what the rules are...students discover why the expectations matter.
What Is It?
Students become:
Prosecution
Defense
Jury
They debate common classroom behaviors like:
• Constant Interrupting
• The Group Project Ghost
• Refusing to Ask for Help
• Side Conversations
• Excluding Classmates
Students must:
✔ Analyze both sides
✔ Build evidence
✔ Practice respectful disagreement
✔ Think critically
✔ Decide what kind of classroom they want to create
Then Comes the Best Part...
After debating the cases, students work together to write and sign their own Classroom Constitution.
Choose from three different formats:
⭐ Whole-Class Discussion
⭐ Independent or Small Group Worksheet
⭐ Constitution Committee Cards
Instead of simply following classroom rules...
Students help create them.
Why Teachers Love This Resource
⭐ Turns classroom expectations into meaningful discussions
⭐ Gives students ownership from Day 1
⭐ Builds classroom community
⭐ Encourages respectful conversations
⭐ Promotes SEL and perspective taking
⭐ Easy-to-use Google Slides
⭐ No prep required
⭐ Great for classroom management all year long
Skills Students Practice
✔ Respect
✔ Responsibility
✔ Communication
✔ Empathy
✔ Collaboration
✔ Critical Thinking
✔ Perspective Taking
✔ Problem Solving
✔ Public Speaking
✔ Community Building
What's Included:
✔ Ready-to-use Google Slides (not editable)
✔ Teacher Directions
✔ Student Directions
✔ Courtroom Procedures
✔ Reflection Question Slide and Worksheet to use as an exit ticket
✔ Classroom Constitution Activity
✔ Constitution Committee Cards
✔ Editable blank case slides so you can create custom cases tailored to your students,
classroom, or school.
Perfect For:
Back-to-School
Classroom Expectations
Classroom Rules
SEL Lessons
Advisory
Team Building
Morning Meetings
Homeroom
Classroom Management
Why This Resource Is Different
Most classroom rule activities ask students to read the expectations.
This resource asks them to debate them.
By discussing both sides of real classroom situations, students begin to understand not just what the expectations are—but why they matter.
The result is a classroom culture built on ownership, respect, and shared responsibility—not just compliance.