Mini-lesson: Supreme Court Opinions (HS)
Lesson Plan
Students will learn about the types of Supreme Court opinions and the influence of legal precedent. Additionally, this Media Moment Mini-lesson introduces…
Overview
Students will learn about the types of Supreme Court opinions and the influence of legal precedent. Additionally, this Media Moment Mini-lesson introduces traditional authors of opinion pieces and explores factors that should influence a student’s evaluation of an author’s credibility. Students then evaluate two commentators or authors of choice to judge the value and limitations of their opinions.
Grade Levels
- 9-12
Learning Objectives
- Define majority, plurality, concurring, and dissenting opinions
- Describe the impact Supreme Court opinions have on courts and the public
- Evaluate a commentator’s credentials when deciding how much value to place on a particular news-related opinion
- Recognize how news-related opinion can contribute to the public conversation