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Lesson Plan

Read All About It! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!

Grade(s)

7

Overview

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 newsletter on the case which will include a summary of the case, two pictures, a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at that time, and an editorial describing their reaction to the case.

Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.R5

Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

Unpacked Content

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.7.R5

Vocabulary

  • curate

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to find valid sources and cite those sources to answer a given research topic.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • locate valid digital resources to answer given research questions.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • a great deal of information is available.
  • it is important to validate the information and to cite the source of the information.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.R6

Produce, review, and revise authentic artifacts that include multimedia using appropriate digital tools.

Unpacked Content

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.7.R6

Knowledge

Students know:
  • feedback is important in a design process.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • create a multimedia artifact.
  • critique the work of others.
  • revise their work based on feedback received.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • much like the writing process, design of a multimedia artifact nets the best results when creators have the opportunity to be given feedback and revise as needed.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

DLCS18.7.16

Construct content designed for specific audiences through an appropriate medium.

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Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.7.16

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to select and design an appropriate medium to display designed content.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • select the best medium for the content design.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • while many mediums exist, it is best to select the one most appropriate to your intended audience.
Social Studies (2010) - Grade(s): 7

AAS.SS10.7C.6

Identify the basic rights under the Bill of Rights; recognize how government protects individual rights; recognize that citizens have a responsibility to follow laws and that there are consequences for breaking laws.

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UP:SS10.7C.6

Vocabulary

  • juvenile
  • civil law
  • criminal law
  • rights
  • Bill of Rights
  • rule of law
  • state
  • federal
  • local
  • court
  • offense
  • felony
  • misdemeanor
  • jail
  • prison
  • juvenile detention center

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The similarities and differences between civil and criminal law.
  • The structure of the juvenile court system.
  • The rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Use primary source documents to justify the actions of courts.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Laws are different for adults and juveniles and that there are separate civil and criminal laws and courts.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 7 - 7th Grade: Civics

SS10.7C.6

Explain the importance of juvenile, adult, civil, and criminal laws within the judicial system of the United States.

Unpacked Content

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.7C.6

Vocabulary

  • juvenile
  • civil law
  • criminal law
  • rights
  • Bill of Rights
  • rule of law
  • state
  • federal
  • local
  • court
  • offense
  • felony
  • misdemeanor
  • jail
  • prison
  • juvenile detention center

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The similarities and differences between civil and criminal law.
  • The structure of the juvenile court system.
  • The rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Use primary source documents to justify the actions of courts.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Laws are different for adults and juveniles and that there are separate civil and criminal laws and courts.

Primary Learning Objectives

The students will gain an understanding of a landmark Supreme Court case and determine who would be most affected by the decision of the Court. This knowledge will be demonstrated by the creation of a newsletter using word processing software with text boxes or desktop publishing software. The students will learn how to use text boxes and be able to import pictures from the Internet into their documents.

Procedures/Activities

Students will work in pairs and turn in one newsletter. Students will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case.
Guidelines for newsletter: Using text boxes, write the title of your newspaper with the authors' names underneath the title. (This could reflect students' name.) Make an eye-catching headline.
Write an article that summarizes the case by giving a description, background, basis of the argument before the Court, the constitutional issue involved, and the Court's decision.
Include another article that gives a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at the time of the case. This could be about the Chief Justice, the justice who wrote the majority opinion, or the justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.
Include two pictures in the newsletter. Examples could include pictures of the Supreme Court building, pictures of the justices, or pictures of people or places relevant to the case. One of the pictures may be clipart. A caption should accompany each picture.
Write a brief editorial describing your feelings and reactions on the case. Will it have an effect on you now? In the future?
This website may be useful:
Suggested cases: Marbury v Madison; Plessy v Ferguson; U.S. v Nixon; Brown v Board of Education of Topeka; Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier; Engel v Vitale; Gideon v Wainwright; New Jersey v TLO
Students will work in pairs and turn in one newsletter. Students will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case.
Guidelines for newsletter: Using text boxes, write the title of your newspaper with the authors' names underneath the title. (This could reflect students' name.) Make an eye-catching headline.
Write an article that summarizes the case by giving a description, background, basis of the argument before the Court, the constitutional issue involved, and the Court's decision.
Include another article that gives a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at the time of the case. This could be about the Chief Justice, the justice who wrote the majority opinion, or the justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.
Include two pictures in the newsletter. Examples could include pictures of the Supreme Court building, pictures of the justices, or pictures of people or places relevant to the case. One of the pictures may be clipart. A caption should accompany each picture.
Write a brief editorial describing your feelings and reactions on the case. Will it have an effect on you now? In the future?
This website may be useful:
Suggested cases: Marbury v Madison; Plessy v Ferguson; U.S. v Nixon; Brown v Board of Education of Topeka; Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier; Engel v Vitale; Gideon v Wainwright; New Jersey v TLO
Students will work in pairs and turn in one newsletter. Students will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case.
Guidelines for newsletter: Using text boxes, write the title of your newspaper with the authors' names underneath the title. (This could reflect students' name.) Make an eye-catching headline.
Write an article that summarizes the case by giving a description, background, basis of the argument before the Court, the constitutional issue involved, and the Court's decision.
Include another article that gives a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at the time of the case. This could be about the Chief Justice, the justice who wrote the majority opinion, or the justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.
Include two pictures in the newsletter. Examples could include pictures of the Supreme Court building, pictures of the justices, or pictures of people or places relevant to the case. One of the pictures may be clipart. A caption should accompany each picture.
Write a brief editorial describing your feelings and reactions on the case. Will it have an effect on you now? In the future?
This website may be useful:
Suggested cases: Marbury v Madison; Plessy v Ferguson; U.S. v Nixon; Brown v Board of Education of Topeka; Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier; Engel v Vitale; Gideon v Wainwright; New Jersey v TLO
Students will work in pairs and turn in one newsletter. Students will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case.
Guidelines for newsletter: Using text boxes, write the title of your newspaper with the authors' names underneath the title. (This could reflect students' name.) Make an eye-catching headline.
Write an article that summarizes the case by giving a description, background, basis of the argument before the Court, the constitutional issue involved, and the Court's decision.
Include another article that gives a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at the time of the case. This could be about the Chief Justice, the justice who wrote the majority opinion, or the justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.
Include two pictures in the newsletter. Examples could include pictures of the Supreme Court building, pictures of the justices, or pictures of people or places relevant to the case. One of the pictures may be clipart. A caption should accompany each picture.
Write a brief editorial describing your feelings and reactions on the case. Will it have an effect on you now? In the future?
This website may be useful:
Suggested cases: Marbury v Madison; Plessy v Ferguson; U.S. v Nixon; Brown v Board of Education of Topeka; Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier; Engel v Vitale; Gideon v Wainwright; New Jersey v TLO
Students will work in pairs and turn in one newsletter. Students will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case.
Guidelines for newsletter: Using text boxes, write the title of your newspaper with the authors' names underneath the title. (This could reflect students' name.) Make an eye-catching headline.
Write an article that summarizes the case by giving a description, background, basis of the argument before the Court, the constitutional issue involved, and the Court's decision.
Include another article that gives a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at the time of the case. This could be about the Chief Justice, the justice who wrote the majority opinion, or the justice who wrote the dissenting opinion.
Include two pictures in the newsletter. Examples could include pictures of the Supreme Court building, pictures of the justices, or pictures of people or places relevant to the case. One of the pictures may be clipart. A caption should accompany each picture.
Write a brief editorial describing your feelings and reactions on the case. Will it have an effect on you now? In the future?
This website may be useful:
Suggested cases: Marbury v Madison; Plessy v Ferguson; U.S. v Nixon; Brown v Board of Education of Topeka; Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier; Engel v Vitale; Gideon v Wainwright; New Jersey v TLO

Assessment Strategies

The students could be evaluated as to whether or not all of the required content was present. Do their newsletters contain accurate information of the case? Did they include the two required pictures? Does the editorial reflect an understanding of the case? Is proofreading evident? (No grammar or spelling errors).

Approximate Duration

Total Duration

Greater than 120 Minutes

Background and Preparation

Background/Preparation

A study of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Judicial Branch of government.

Materials and Resources

Technology Resources Needed

Computers with Internet access, word processing software, printer

Approved Date

2014-04-30
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