Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Studying Conflicting Interpretations: Perspectives on Plessy v. Ferguson: Part 3

For Teachers 8th Standards
Scholars closely read Justice John Marshall Harlan's dissenting opinion in the Plessy v. Ferguson case, seeking to understand why he disagreed with the court's decision that racial segregation laws for public spaces were constitutional....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Rights and the Michigan Supreme Court I: A Case of Racial Discrimination in the late 1800s and Minority Supreme Court Justices

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read the decision of the Michigan Supreme Court in the Ferguson v. Gies, a case dealing with discrimination in a restaurant. They participate in a class discussion about the case and the justices that presided over it. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Procedures of the Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the role of the Michigan Supreme Court. They diagram the procedure one must follow to bring a case before the Court. They discuss the order of business for oral arguments as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court Rulings

For Teachers 10th
Become familiar with the constitution and amendments with an in depth opportunity to utilize media center resources. Groups of students focus on an amendment then make a presentation to the class.
Lesson Plan
State Bar of Texas

Gibbons v. Ogden

For Teachers 8th Standards
Have you ever played the game Monopoly? Do you know what it takes to win the game correctly? Scholars research the nature of outlawing monopolies in the United States while controlling trade. They investigate the court case Gibbons v....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine federalism and judicial review. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Marbury v. Madison and discuss the implications of the decision.
Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

Judicial Independence

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Most people support the idea of an independent judiciary in theory until they hear about a court case that violates their principles. An informative resource explains why the concept is important. It also provides scholars of criminology...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just Say It

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the initial Supreme Court decision to regulate commercial speech, and then analyze the legal precedents and principles underlying a recent case contesting this regulation.
Interactive
Curated OER

Fact and Opinion: Post Test

For Students 5th - 8th
For this fact and opinion worksheet, students identify sentences as being facts or opinions or choose the fact or opinion sentence. Students complete 10 multiple choice questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hodgson v. Minnesota

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils investigate the role of and develop opinions of the court in weighing competing interests in making decisions. They examine the power of the courts and legislature to regulate constitutional rights.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michigan United Conservationists Club (M.U.C.C). v. Michigan Secretary of State: An Issue of Referendum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the procedures of the Michigan Supreme Court. They identify the processes and procedures being used. They debate a case that was presented to the Court and analyze the oral arguments of the case.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Faces of the Bench

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use primary source documents to gather information on justices in the Michigan Supreme Court. They write about the thoughts and experiences of the author. They identify and describe each justice briefly.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court Confirmation Process

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Supreme Court and the confirmation process. They simulate a confirmation hearing with students role-playing as nominees and others as members of the Judiciary Committee. Students compose short essays outlining the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rights of the Accused: To Be Confronted with the Witnesses Against Him

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners take on the role of Supreme Court Justices, after reading summary of a case and the arguments for and against a defendant's appeal. They make a decision, write majority and minority opinions, and report their decision.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medical Marijuana - Legitimate Use Or Legalized Abuse?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars, in groups, discuss opinions about medical marijuana use. They form their own opinion about the U.S Supreme Court case involving this issue.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michigan Supreme Court

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners read articles on a hot topic (controverial topic) and prepare for a discussion on the article. They engage in forming an opinion on an important public concern and defending their opinion/position with supporting data. They...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

The Impact of Citizens United v. FEC

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What began as an effort to show a movie by an interest group has impacted financing of federal elections. Did the Citizens United case lead to more "dark money" in politics, or did it shine a light with more speech? Using video clips...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Courting Controversy?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider their own personal opinions on divisive issues. They examine the confirmation of Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and investigate issues from different ideological and philosophical perspectives.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regents of the U. of California v. Blake

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine affirmative action and equal protection. In this Supreme Court instructional activity, students examine primary documents from Regents of the U. of California v. Blake and discuss the implications of the decision.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Michigan Law Affects You

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how the laws in Michigan affect their lives. They use primary source documents to analyze the state's history. They discuss laws pertaining to women as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore desegregation as it occurred at various stages in United States history. They specifically chronicle the role of South Carolina in the desegregation case of Brown v. Board of Education.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Native american Tribal Sovereignty

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the issue of tribal sovereignty for Native Americans. Following a mock trial simulation based on the case of Johnson v. McIntosh, they write opinion papers based on the results of the Supreme Court decision in 1823.
Handout
Curated OER

Abortion

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Abortion has remained a highly controversial issue ever since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Using the website, learners sift through all the information they need to participate in a debate about the topic. They learn about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kirit C. Shah, M.D. v. Stan Harris and Nancy Harris Lesson 1: One Case, Two Sides

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars examine how lawyers prepare their arguments. They realize that both sides of a legal case may use the same cases as precedents in their positions. They find decisions of the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of...