Total Duration: |
Greater than 120 Minutes |
Materials and Resources: |
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Technology Resources Needed: |
Computers with Internet access, word processing software, printer |
Background/Preparation: |
A study of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Judicial Branch of government. |
1.)Students will work in pairs and turn in one newsletter. Students will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case. 2.)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. 3.)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. 4.)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. 5.)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. 6.)Write a brief editorial describing your feelings and reactions on the case. Will it have an effect on you now? In the future? 7.)This website may be useful:
(Landmark Cases) This site was developed to provide teachers with a full range of resources and activities to support the teaching of landmark Supreme Court cases, helping students explore the key issues of each case. 8.)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). |
Acceleration: |
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Intervention: |
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View the Special Education resources for
instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations
for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.
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