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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion in the Schools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The requirements of the Equal Access Act are studied and applied to factual situations. By looking at the particular contexts suggested your class can examine the difficulties faced by administrators in whether they should permit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voters and Judges

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the work on independent judiciaries. In this federal courts lesson, students listen to their instructor lecture on details of federal cases. Students respond to discussion questions and participate in an activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Public Use?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Explore the Fifth Amendment by examining the meaning of "public use" as learners read a scenario and role play their assigned parts to determine "public use." They also read Supreme Court Cases regarding the amendment and present their...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
How far have we come and how far do we still need to go to achieve equality and full civil rights in the United States? Include a packet of materials collected in your observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers interpret the Second Amendment. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students examine the right to bear arms as they compare 2 Michigan Supreme Court cases and discuss their personal interpretations of the amendment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Advice And Consent - the Senate Considers the President's Supreme Court Nominations

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils study the process and questioning for selecting a Supreme Court Justice. They examine how the decisions of the Supreme Court effect the lives of citizens. They complete worksheets as they study the material.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Model Courtroom

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students construct a model of the Supreme Court's courtroom. They design the courtroom in such a way so that the architecture and furnishings in the courtroom represent the neutrality and power of the court.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making an Appeal

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students make an appeal. In this making an appeal lesson students give characteristics of the Washington Supreme Court. Students examine public policy conflicts and present an appellate case.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan 5

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the process of writing a case brief. They analyze the case McCulloch v Maryland. After a lecture/demo, students utilize a case study worksheet imbedded in this plan to help them explain the process of performing a case...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Ken Burns: Jackie Robinson - A Journey Back to Separate but Equal Conditions

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Baseball great Jackie Robinson fought for social justice. His efforts to push for equal access are detailed in an episode from from the Ken Burns: The Jackie Robinson Collection. After viewing the clip, class members engage in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Row Behind Death Row

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate several controversial issues in the criminal justice system relating to death row and give oral reports explaining how their issues safeguard or contaminate the issue of fairness in capital punishment. They offer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Courts in the Classroom: Ritter v Stanton

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars read the case briefs of Ritter v Stanton. They simulate the trial with classmates taking various parts such as appellant, appellee, bailiff, and justices. After conducting a mock argument, they write their own opinion for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Citizenship and the Constitution

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify government officials and resources on a local, state and national level. They determine the structure of local, state, and national governments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Activism In The United States

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore justice issues. In this social activism instructional activity, students watch "Social Activism in the United States," and then locate newspaper articles from the 1960's and 1970's about events during the era.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation of the Warren Court

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners study period of Supreme Court history when Earl Warren was the Chief Justice and how the cases of this era effected American society.
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

Michigan Judicial System Conclusion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the courts that make up Michigan's judicial system. They state the responsibilities of each court and diagram a flow chart of how a case moves to the Michigan Supreme Court. They participate in a quiz about the current...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the intent  Bill of Rights. In this American government instructional activity, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Bill of Rights."  Students discuss and debate the 4 Supreme Court cases...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hodgson v. Minnesota

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students 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

Investigation of The Court and Gender

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the landmark legislation involving gender and the female justices who have influenced the United States Supreme Court.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Whispering Wires": Public Law vs. Individual Civil Liberties

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High school student love discussing controversial issues like those brought up in this fourth amendment case study. They examine the 1928 Olmstead vs. U.S. prohibition court case, applying the fourth amendment to determine whether...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constitutional Rights

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read an account of a students reaction to the Vietnam War. They complete comprehension questions from the reading passage. They read arguments from the Supreme Court Justices and decide which arguments they agree with.