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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minorities in Mainstream American Society

For Teachers 11th Standards
So many people fought for Civil Rights in the United States. Read about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and discuss what the act guarantees. Then pass out a slew of magazines and encourage them to observe how often minorities appear in...
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Primary
Cornell College

Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court Decision

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
Dred Scott was a harbinger of the Civil War. An enslaved man claimed freedom because his owner had taken him into free territory. Not only did the Supreme Court rule that Dred Scott and his wife were to remain enslaved, but it also ruled...
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Activity
Administrative Office of the US Courts

Engel v. Vitale

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
"Is school-sponsored prayer in public schools unconstitutional?" That is the question teams debate as they consider the arguments presented to the Supreme Court in Engel v. Vitale. The attorneys study the provided talking points and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Court Cases Testing the Establishment of Religion

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Although the PowerPoint this lesson plan calls for is unavailable, you could easily create a presentation to fulfill its purpose. Learners listen to a presentation and keep track of the information with a graphic organizer that looks at...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hiibel vs. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Did Hiibel's arrest and conviction for not telling a police officer his name violate his rights? Have your learners read a short description of the case and answer the comprehension questions that follow. Resource links and extension...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brown v. Board of Education

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine school segregation and equal protection laws. In this Supreme Court instructional activity, students examine primary documents from Brown v. Board of Education and discuss the implications of the decision.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Texas v. Johnson

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the freedom of speech. In this Supreme Court lesson, students analyze primary documents from Texas v. Johnson and discuss the implications of the decision regarding flag burning.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine various Supreme Court Cases.  In this American Government lesson, 9th graders research a specific Supreme Court Case.  Students create a multiple choice assignment based on their assigned case. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Boundary Crossing

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the issues that arose as a result of boundary crossing.  For this US History lesson, 7th graders research supreme court cases in regards to crossing boundaries.  Students present their findings to the class.
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Dred Scott Case

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you will find the primary source text of the case and the opinions of the Supreme Court Justices in the Scott v Sandford case which ultimately ruled on the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases: Dartmouth v. Woodward

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the majority decision of the case brought before the Supreme Court known as Dartmouth v. Woodward.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases: Gibbons v. Ogden

For Students 9th - 10th
The important Supreme Court decision concerning interstate commerce is presented here.
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases: Marbury v. Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
The text of the famous Supreme Court decision, Marbury v. Madison, is presented here.
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Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: u.s. Supreme Court: Buckley v. Valeo, 424 u.s. 1 (1976)

For Students 9th - 10th
This appeal filed in the U.S. Supreme Court describes the expressed powers of Congress to oversee the elections of President, Vice-President and Congress.
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Activity
Cato Institute

Cato Institute: Dewey J. Jones vs. the United States [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief of a court case where the petitioner argues that the Commerce Clause does not authorize Congress to make the arson of a private residence a federal crime, as it is already a state crime, and that police powers are assigned to the...
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Plessy v. Ferguson 1896

For Students 9th - 10th
View this document to access background information and the opinions of the Supreme Court in the Plessy v. Ferguson case (1896).
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: History of Child Labor in the United States

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Read this brief overview of child labor and exploitation and the attempt at reform before delving into the Supreme Court case, Hammer v Dagenhart, which overturned the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act. Included are six lesson plans based on...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents: Gibbons v. Ogden(1824)

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn all about this Supreme Court decision that dealt with interstate commerce. View an image of the original document and read the complete text.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about this landmark Supreme Court case on the issue of racial discrimination . Provides an image of a document from the case files and a transcript of the opinion delivered in 1896 by Justice Henry Brown "which sustained the...
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Website
Other

In Pursuit of Freedom & Equality: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

For Students 9th - 10th
Teachers and students can find a comprehensive summary of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case. Learn about the myths and find out the truth. The activities offered are especially meaningful. Students can perform a...
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Primary
Other

Project p.a.t.c.h.: Dred Scott v. Sandford

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents the text of the case, Dred Scott, Plaintiff v. John F. Sandford, which was presented to the Supreme Court in December, 1856.
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Activity
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Bill of Rights Day Is Observed

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Contains plans for seven lessons that ask students to examine Supreme Court cases that have impacted civil liberties in the United States. Students work in groups and report their findings using PowerPoint presentations. In addition to...
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Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Formation and Function of the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Correlated to National Standards, this two-period lesson plan presents students with an understanding of the history, make-up, and role of the Supreme Court, while providing a summary of notable court rulings.
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Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Powell v. Alabama

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides the full text of the opinion of Justice Sutherland in the landmark Supreme Court case of Powell v. Alabama, which deals with the Fourteenth Amendment and due process of law, and which were found to be denied to the defendants in...