Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: u.s. V. Amistad: A Case of Jurisdiction

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars will review the Amistad case and use passages from the case explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system. Also, included are links to the background of the Amistad case, a...
Unit Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Curriculum Unit Landmark Library

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This library of mini-lessons targets a variety of landmark cases from the United States Supreme Court and includes a one-page reading and a one-page activity.
Unit Plan
C-SPAN

C Span Classroom: Teaching About King v. Burwell

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning module with lesson plan in which students learn about the various for and against positions of the A.C.A. (Affordable Care Act) by watching C-SPAN videos and reading related articles, then participate in a classroom deliberation...
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: New York Times v. United States (1971)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case allowed the publication of the "Pentagon Papers." The OYEZ resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary, an audio file, a link to the full text of the decision and a record of how the justices...
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978)

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Supreme Court case that allowed affirmative action to be a criteria for admission decisions in institutes of higher education.
Article
BBC

Bbc: Profile: Sonia Sotomayor

For Students 9th - 10th
This BBC profile provides an overview of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's background with an emphasis on her professional life. Also provides links to related stories on significant judicial issues, significant cases she has...
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: u.s. V. Amistad: A Case of Jurisdiction

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students will analyze specified passages from the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Libellants of Schooner Amistad to explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system.
Handout
Cool Fire Technology

Cool Fire Technology: Supreme Court Decisions

For Students 9th - 10th
A listing of the most significant Supreme Court cases in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with brief summaries of how they impacted on federalism.
Article
Other

The Alliance: Review of in Re Gault

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides an easily understandable description of the 1967 U.S Supreme Court case involving Gerald Gault.
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Justice Henry B. Brown's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case, written by Henry B. Brown.
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: New York Times Co. V. Sullivan (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.'s full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1856)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court Justice. She was one of the first female attorneys and fought gender inequality for much of her career as a lawyer, even arguing cases before the Supreme Court prior to herself taking a...
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Texas v. Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
This Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution eLesson focuses on a case involving expressive conduct, and what is for many a deeply cherished symbol of America, the U.S. flag. In a closely divided (5-4) ruling, the Supreme Court...
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Mc Culloch v. Maryland

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about this landmark Supreme Court case on the issues of federal power and commerce. Provides an image of a document from the case files and a transcript of the opinion delivered in 1819 by Chief Justice John Marshall.
Activity
Other

Debating Racial Preference Gratz Grutter

For Students 9th - 10th
A site that has links to a large amount of information regarding the Gratz and Grutter Supreme Court cases. Links include documents, summaries, issues, briefs, and oral arguments.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Naacp, Constance Baker Motley

For Students 9th - 10th
In this transcript of an interview for Eyes on the Prize, Justice Constance Baker Motley recalls her role as an NAACP attorney in landmark school desegregation cases.
Handout
Other

United States Courts: Facts and Case Summary Texas v. Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
Facts and case summary for Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989). Flag burning constitutes symbolic speech that is protected by the First Amendment.
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Schenck v. United States (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case established the famous "clear and present danger" doctrine by dealing with the issue of freedom of speech. This resource provides an abstract containing a summary, a link to the full text of the decision, and...
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the famous "separate but equal" doctrine by dealing with the issues of racial discrimination and equal protection. This resource provides an abstract containing a concise summary and a link to the...
Activity
Other

Justia: u.s. Supreme Court Center: Cases and Opinions: Search and Seizure

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive overview of the Fourth Amendment, on the legality of searches and seizures of persons or property, makes note of Supreme Court rulings on the subject of unreasonable searches and searches.
Activity
Other

Common Sense Americanism: Schenck v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This summary provides the background for Schenck v. United States, a World War I-era Supreme Court case involving free speech. Schenck is an example of what can happen to basic constitutional rights in time of war.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Gault Case Changed Juvenile Law

For Students 7th - 8th
A learning module that begins with "Gault Case Changed Juvenile Law" by Margot Adler accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...
Website
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Advice and Consent: Supreme Court Nominations (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson that explains the role of checks and balances in U.S. system of government. Students will describe the process of selecting justices for the Supreme Court, will examine past Supreme Court cases, and will discuss how the Supreme...