“That four great nations, flushed with victory and stung with injury stay the hand of vengeance and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that Power has ever paid to Reason.” — from Jackson's Opening Statement before the International Military Tribunal

Lesson Plans on the US Supreme Court

Lesson
Plan
Description
5.3.4.1 FDR and the Reorganization of the Judiciary
5.3.4.2 Supreme Court Decisions and Their Effect on Us
5.3.4.3 Equality and Civil Rights (Grades 6-8)
5.3.4.4 Symbolic Speech and the Supreme Court (Grade 9 U.S. History)
5.3.4.5 Supreme Court Rulings (Grades 10-12)

Lesson Plan 5.3.4.1: FDR and the Reorganization of the Judiciary
Resource: New Deal Network by Renee Wygant
Following the election of 1936, Franklin Roosevelt addressed the American people on the need to reform the Supreme Court. His attempt to “pack” the court by appointing an additional justice for every one who had attained the age of 70 and refused to retire, was one of the few times that the President did not succeed in his policies. Students will learn how and why this happened.

Lesson Plan 5.3.4.2: Supreme Court Decisions and Their Effect on Us
Resource: An Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
This lesson describes how decisions are handed down by the courts based on the constitution and importantly the Supreme Court. These decisions have a direct effect on all of us and play a major part in protecting, or in some cases, limiting or restricting individual rights. This activity is used in a required secondary American Government class in the middle of a unit on the federal court system and civil rights. The purpose of this activity is to help students understand how Supreme Court decisions affect us all and how the Supreme Court bases its decisions.

Lesson Plan 5.3.4.3: Equality and Civil Rights (Grades 6-8)
Resource: From The Civic Mind
This lesson plan is designed to help students to understand conflicts over fundamental values and principles of fairness and racial equality through historic Supreme Court decisions that reflect changes in society. Students will study three Supreme Court cases that addressed equal protection in the United States between 1890 and 1982.

Lesson Plan 5.3.4.4: Symbolic Speech and the Supreme Court (Grade 9 U.S. History)
Resource: From Academy Curricular Exchange Columbia Education Center
This lesson plan provides an activity showing how the Supreme Court affects our personal freedoms. The lesson teaches students the role of the Supreme Court in respect to interpreting the law.
After completing this lesson, students should be able to:
1. Understand why the Constitution has changed over the years.
2. Recognize the power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of a law.
3. Identify three important Supreme Court decisions.

Lesson Plan 5.3.4.5: Supreme Court Rulings (Grades 10-12)
Resource: From Academy Curricular Exchange Columbia Education Center
This lesson works to familiarize students with the constitution and amendments and to give an in depth opportunity to utilize their media center resources. In our changing society it is important for students to be knowledgeable concerning the potential flow of Supreme Court decisions by the high court.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Demonstrate, through role play, knowledge of which constitutional amendments apply to criminal/civil law.
2. Explain how the constitution affords protection to them.
3. Identify resources that are relevant to their research.