Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Claim Your Jurisdiction Game

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students participate in a game in which they have to decide whether it is state or federal jurisdiction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Significance of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study the impact of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights upon criminal law. They analyze opposition to expansionist viewpoints that could possibly create more checks and balances on the state courts and analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Court Cases Get Appealed

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and analyze two functional documents. They predict outcomes using prior knowledge and documents. Students draw conclusions about how court cases are appealed. They list the parts of a court case.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court: Practice with Precedents 2010

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the term precedent in the court system.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders research various court cases in history.  Students create a study chart that shows comparisons of these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Court System Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are assign a particular Federal or State Court. They are asked to make a poster of the court they have been assigned. Students are told that the poster should include a list of the types of cases that particular court...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rights in Conflict

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners study situations where rights are in conflict. In this conflict in rights lesson, students review a conflict situation and the Supreme Court ruling for the issue. Learners review the Bill of Rights and then receive their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Role Playing Free Speech

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students conduct research into looking at a free-speech issue. They role play the events surrounding a court case. The lesson includes guiding questions to help create context and determine areas of further study. The presentation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the redistricting process.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders examine the electoral map.  Students write an essay posing an argument for the redistricting process. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Question of Faith?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Should organized prayer be prohibited at high school sporting events? Students explore their own feelings about prayer in school-sponsored events, before discussing the recent Supreme Court decision banning public prayer at high school...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Understanding Box Plots

For Teachers 6th Standards
Scholars apply the concepts of box plots and dot plots to summarize and describe data distributions. They use the data displays to compare sets of data and determine numerical summaries. 
Lesson Plan
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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

Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students research the Supreme Court judicial selection process while role playing. They examine the political nature of the process and discuss merits of Supreme Court nominees.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Burning Hatred

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the constitutionality of various forms of expression; they then take part in a mock trial on the issue of cross burning. Divide the class into three groups; Supreme Court Justices, and two groups that don't agree on this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Justice

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the role of justice in the formation of the United States and in the operation of today's criminal justice system. They investigate symbols associated with justice and references to justice in the Constitution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a series of drawings to show the process of how the Supreme Court does its work. The drawings may be in strip cartoon form or a series of separate illustrations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

dsfa

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students work in groups examining the school's policy of no weapons on school property.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Big Four Baseball

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the justices known as the "Big Four" in the Michigan Supreme Court. They explore their similarities and differences. They examine the cases that were decided by them that have had an impact on the laws in Michigan.
Lesson Plan
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Making An Appeal

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners are introduced to factors involved in making an appeal in a court case. Students examine the appeals in two court cases and present arguments for both sides. Learners discuss the class decision and compare it to the actual...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just Say It

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Right to Remain Resilient

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the Civil Rights Movements in the U.S., both current and historic. In small groups students investigate a specific civil rights group, create an illustrated timeline, noting key events, people, and state and federal laws.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plessy V. Ferguson: "Separate but Equal," Equal Protection

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the details and impact of the Plessy vs. Ferguson U.S. Supreme Court case.  In this U.S. History lesson, students participate in several group discussions and group activities that examine both sides of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Equal Rights for Men?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Study the issue of gender bias in court cases with a resource that ponders the extent of gender equality. Learners examine cultural images of men and women and examine court cases dealing issues such as women in the military.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

social Studies: First Amendment Role-Play

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students evaluate First Amendment case decisions by the Supreme Court. they divide into three groups - Supreme Court justices, prosecution attorneys, and defense lawyers. Both sides present their arguments and the justices deliver...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dred Scott and the Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the outcome of the Dred Scott case. In this human rights lesson, students read Justice Taney's decision about property rights and citizenship. Students write essays about the outcome of the case and President...