Lesson Plan #: AELP-CIV0008

Making Binding Agreements

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Boyd Whitesides
School or Affiliation: Clearfield High, Utah
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 11, 12

Subject(s):

Overview: Contracts, offer, and acceptance are the basic parts of the activities of a modern civilized society. Students do not realize how many of their everyday activities constitute making and keeping binding agreements. Their entire lives will be made up of these important aspects of the basic contract.

Purpose: To thoroughly explore "offer" and "acceptance" in relationship to making binding agreements.

Objectives: As a result of this activity, the students should be able to:

  1. List the elements of an offer.
  2. Describe how an offer is ended.
  3. Explain the elements of an acceptance.
  4. Know when a genuine offer and acceptance results in a binding contract.

Resources/Materials: The Business Law Text Newspaper articles concerning contracts Resource Guide for Law

Activities and Procedures: Assign verbal topics where the students explain to the class the following topics. Each student is considered an "expert" in the following topics assigned. (about 2-3 minutes per verbal topic)

  1. What is a offeror and offeree?
  2. An offer must be intended to create a legal obligation.
  3. An offer must be definite.
  4. An offer must be communicated to the offeree.
  5. An offer ends at a stated time.
  6. An offer ends at the end of a reasonable length of time.
  7. An offer ends when rejected by the offeree or counteroffer.
  8. An offer ends when revoked or modified before offeree has accepted.
  9. An offer ends with the death or insanity of the offeror or the offeree.
  10. An offer can be kept open with an option -- (money down).
  11. An acceptance can only be made by the person to whom the offer is made.
  12. An acceptance must be unconditional and identical with the offer.
  13. An acceptance must be communicated.
  14. Acceptance by the offeree creates a valid contract.

Tying It All Together: By being tested on these elements of offer and acceptance which constitute contract law, the students will take with them valuable knowledge which will benefit them in their daily lives. Many students return to state the valuable knowledge gained in contract law and the other aspects of business law. This is the big payoff for me in the field of law education.