ProCon
Gun Control
According to some estimates, there are more guns than people in the United States. Learners decide if America should enact more gun control laws. They analyze information about gun deaths in the United States by year, read about the...
Curated OER
Civil Rights Lesson Plans
Civil rights lesson plans can help students delve into history, music, law, and literature. There are a multitude of options.
Curated OER
Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find": Who's the Real Misfit?
Students read and analyze the short story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," by Flannery O'Connor. They write a one-page response, explore various websites, take an online interactive journey, and write a final assessment paper.
Curated OER
Muhammad Ali and his Vietnam War Resistance: Defining Nonviolent Action through Gandhi and King
Students research Muhammad Ali's act of civil disobedience. In this civil disobedience lesson, students research Ali's defiance of the Vietnam War draft and compare his reasoning to Martin Luther King's thoughts on the war. Students...
Other
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Excellent resources for teaching about landmark Supreme Court cases. Strategies include case study, moot court activity, role play, continuum, community resources, evaluating websites, and political cartoon analysis.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Students will analyze one of four Supreme Court cases that relate to the constitutional rights of women decided between 1908-2005. Students will become mini-experts on one Supreme Court cases and they will be exposed to the content,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Extra! Extra! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!
This is a project to conclude the study of the Judicial Branch of our government. The students, working in pairs, will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case to research in a computer lab setting. They will then construct a one-page...
National Cable Satellite Corporation
C Span Classroom: Interactive Supreme Court Timeline Case Study
For this interactive lesson, students will identify important Supreme Court cases, evaluate their decisions, explain the precedents they established, and analyze their importance to our society today.
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Supreme Court and Freedom of Speech
Brief descriptions of several case studies involving decisions by the Supreme Court concerning First Amendment rights, especially freedom of speech.
Social Studies for Kids
Social Studies for Kids: The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest in the land. It has nine members and decides whether laws are unconstitutional. It handles appeals from federal courts or state supreme courts. Learn more about how it works and some famous Justices.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Separate but Equal: A Study of Segregation
Given Supreme Court case summaries, students will compare and contrast the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education decisions.
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Exploring Constitutional Law
Although the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, its interpretation is open to many opinions, causing great controversies. Students can read the Constitution as well as the many issues that surround the document. If that proves...
Other
Landmark Cases: Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
A complete resource for teachers to use when teaching about this Supreme Court case. There is a background summary, excerpts of opinions and teacher directed activities to use after studying the case.
Social Studies Help Center
Social Studies Help Center: The Supreme Court as Defender of the Constitution
This site gives you examples of court cases demonstrating how the Supreme Court upholds the constituion. It also includes links to further information.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: America's Melting Pot
As part of the study of Civil Liberties, the young scholars will do research on Civil Rights Supreme Court Cases and amendments that changed America. In groups, students will use various websites, books and newspaper articles to acquire...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Our Rights
This book uses historical case studies to explore the rights in the Constitution. Supreme Court cases are used to demonstrate how a right received its modern interpretation, how the right applies today, and how courts and other...
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez: Grutter v. Bollinger
This resource gives a brief but informative overview of Grutter v. Bollinger. Also includes audio of the oral arguments given in front of the Supreme Court. A great site for studying this case.
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: You Be the Judge
Study and evaluate a recent U.S. Supreme Court case that reviews jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and assesses environmental and business interests. Research and debate a case argument, and analyze case information in order to make a...
Other
Fundamentals of Judicial Philosophy: Activism
This short article discusses judicial restraint versus judicial activism, with constitutional and case study references.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History Periods and Themes
This Khan Academy resource is a chart with major themes, documents, and key words for the AP US History exam. A major part of this resource provides explanations about how to approach each section of the AP US History Test.